The Unthanks- The Testimony of Patience Kershaw
this folk song is based on the testimony of patience kershaw, a 17 year old girl who worked in a coal mine in the 19th century. i believe she was interviewed during in investigation into work-related deaths of women and children in mills, mines, and other places of business. ms. kershaw described the struggles she and her family had. she couldn’t read or write, hadn’t been to school at all, if i remember correctly. instead, she and most of her siblings worked in poor conditions for poor wages. the song focuses more on the trials on the job and the toll it takes on her perception of herself. i really feel for this girl. i know it may be trivial (and incredibly corny), and it probably wouldn’t mean much to her, but if i’d met her, i would have told her she was beautiful.
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