“The Bluestone Quarries”

Description

"In eighteen hundred and forty one, They put their long red flannels on (x2), To work in the bluestone quarries." Stories of the Irish immigrants who became bluestone miners, and faced poverty, uncaring bosses, and cruel conditions

Supplemental text

Bluestone Quarries, The
  Partial text(s)

          *** A ***

From Norman Cazden, Herbert Haufrecht, Norman Studer, Folk Songs
of the Catskills, #174, pp. 629-631. As sung by Harry Siemsen.

In Eighteen Hundred and Forty One
They put their long red flannels on,
They put their long red flannels on
To work in the bluestone quarries.

  Refrain:
  Tithery hoora, hoora hey,
  Tithery hoora, hoora hey,
  Tithery hoora, hoora hey,
  To work in the bluestone quarries.

We left old Ireland far behind,
To search for work of a different kind;
To work was hard, but we didn't mind
To work in the bluestone quarries.

(8 additional stanzas)

Cross references

• cf. "Paddy Works on the Railway" (tune & meter)

References

1. FSCatskills 174, "The Bluestone Quarries" (1 text + appendix, 1 tune)
2. ST FSC174 (Partial)
3. BI, FSC174