ArtWrite: Artists and Writers Projects, 2016 : Studley Needlemakers

 

14 artists, 10 writers and one director come together for a unique collaboration in response to the needlemakers of Studley 

THE ARTISTS WORKHOUSE. STUDLEY. WARWICKSHIRE

Song of the Studley Needle Girls 

(Music: TRAD ‘My Johnny Was a Shoemaker’)

Verse 1 

Keep straightening the needles, girls, and clear the hammer marks
Keep straightening the needles, girls, and think of your sweethearts.
Oil will never stop all crooks, girls,
So we’ll always bring home pay, bring home pay,
And sing of our sweethearts all day.  

Verse 2

Keep straightening the needles, girls, and sing of my Charlie
Keep straightening the needles, girls, he is the man for me.
Drawing and rolling red hot wire
Burns his hands and cuts his face, cuts it through;
Still he’s the man I’ll be wife to.  

Verse 3

Keep straightening the needles, girls, and sing of my Billy
Keep straightening the needles, girls, he is the man for me.
No Sheffield mask, but swilling beer
He will keep his wages high, wages high;
Till grindstone dust shall see him die.

Verse 4

Keep straightening the needles, girls, and sing of my Tommy
Keep straightening the needles, girls, he is the man for me.
On the kick-stamp his stirruped foot
Drops then raises hammer high, hammer high;
And marks our needle head and eye.

Verse 5

Keep straightening the needles, girls, and sing of my Alfie
Keep straightening the needles, girls, he is the man for me.
Strong as Vulcan at his furnace
Turning wires a cherry red, cherry red;
As red as I’ll turn in his bed.

Verse 6

Keep straightening the needles, girls, and sing of my Johnny
Keep straightening the needles, girls, he is the man for me.
It’s with oil and putty powder
My strong-armed Johnny scours, Johnny scours;
And gladly would I watch for hours.

Repeat Verse 1.

 

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Hear Sharon singing this song by clicking the link below.

Song of the Studley Needle Girls