THE WEAVER'S SONG (trad.) (late 1800s-early 1900s)


THE ALMANAC SINGERS, 1941: WOODY GUTHRIE, LEE HAYS, MILLARD LAMPELL, PETE SEEGER
(left to right)

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Another song to the tune of the 19th century sacred song "Life's Railway to Heaven" (credited to M. E. ABBEY & CHARLIE D. TILLMAN), possibly based (like "Miner's Lifeguard") on a Welsh hymn, "Calon Lan."

An extended version, entitled "Weavery Life," was copyrighted to WOODY GUTHRIE in 1963 and included in Pete Seeger (ed.), Woody Guthrie Folk Songs, London 1973, pp. 200-201.

Lyrics as reprinted (with minor corrections by Manfred Helfert) in Ronald D. Cohen & Dave Samuelson, liner notes for "Songs for Political Action," Bear Family Records BCD 15720 JL, 1996, p. 87.
PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED OUTTAKE FROM "SOD-BUSTER BALLADS," General Album G-21, 1941, first released on "SONGS FOR POLITICAL ACTION," BEAR FAMILY RECORDS BCD 15720 JL, 1996.

Weaver's life is like an engine,
Coming around the mountain steep,
Had our ups and downs a-plenty
And at night we cannot sleep.
Very often flag your fixer
When his head is a-bending low,
You may think that he's a-loafing
But he's doing all he knows.
Soon we'll end this life of weaving,
Soon we'll reach a better shore,
Where we'll rest from filling batteries;
We won't have to weave no more.
Very often meet a partner
Who would like to learn to weave.
And we feel it is our duty,
We are bound to believe.
Show him all about those breakouts
For he'll have them by the score;
When the conversation's over
We won't want to weave no more.
Soon we'll end this life of weaving,
Soon we'll reach a better shore,
Where we'll rest from filling batteries;
We won't want to weave no more.

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