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Fourpence a Day

Date 1953
Track ID 7946
Part 1

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1953.241.A2

Original Tape ID

SA1953.241

Summary

This song was collected by Ewan MacColl and Joan Littlewood at a pensioners' club in Teesdale, Yorkshire.

The song tells of a boy rising at five o'clock on a snowy morning to go and wash lead for fourpence a day. His father wanted him to stay at school but could not afford the fee. The song ends with the hope that the Turk [i.e. the boss] will soften and give him the legal rate of ninepence.

Item Notes

3 verses and choruses. Recorded at the 3rd People's Festival Ceilidh in Edinburgh in 1953.

Recording Location

County - Midlothian

Parish - Edinburgh

Village/Place - Edinburgh

Language

English

Collection

SoSS

Classification

R2586

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good