“The Dream of the Miner's Child”
Description
"A miner was leaving his home for his work When he heard his little child scream." She had dreamt of his death in the mines, and begs him not to go to work that day. But he must go to work. (In some versions the song ends with a mining disaster)
Notes
How solid is the 1922 date from Randolph? The Vernon Dalhart recording, which became near-canonical, credited Andrew Jenkins as author, and it certainly has his style. Could he have taken bits from, "Don't Go Down in the Mine, Dad" and perhaps elsewhere, then built a new song from them? - PJS
An interesting question. Randolph's text is certainly much like the standard version. The book assuredly prints a date of 1922. What's more, Randolph had two other pieces from the same informant, and both were dated 1922 also. So I cannot resolve the question. - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "Les Reeder" (theme)
- cf. "Blockader Mama" (theme)
Recordings
- Vernon Dalhart, "The Dream of the Miner's Child" (OKeh 40498, 1925) (Columbia 15046-D [as Al Craver], 1925) (Victor 19821, 1925) (Cameo 812/Lincoln 2429, 1925; Romeo 332, 1927) (Pathe 32150/Pathe 032150/Perfect 12229, 1925) (Edison 51649 [as Vernon Dalhart & Co.], 1925) (CYL: Edison [BA] 5085 [as Vernon Dalhart & Co.], 1925) (Gennett 3197, 1926; Challenge 505, 1927; Herwin 75502, n.d.; rec. 1925) (Banner 1672/Domino 3642/Oriole 545/Paramount 33176/Regal 9978, 1926; rec. 1925) (Vocalion 5086/Vocalion 15217, 1926)
- Morris Brothers, "The Dream of the Miner's Child" (Bluebird B-8841, 1941)
- Arnold Keith Storm, "The Dream of the Miner's Child" (on AKStorm01)
References
- Green-Miner, p. 113-115, "Dream of the Miner's Child" (2 texts, 1 tune, plus a text of "Don't Go Down in the Mine, Dad")
- Randolph 859, "The Dream of the Miner's Child" (1 text)
- Shellans, pp. 64-65, "The Miner Child's Dream" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Spaeth-WeepMore, pp. 141-142, "The Dream of the Miner's Child" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Paterson/Fahey/Seal, pp. 131-134, "The Miner" (1 text, collected as a conflation of "The Miner" and "The Dream of the Miner's Child")
- DT, MINERCHD*
- Roud #2334
- BI, R859