The Testimony Of Patience Kershaw
The Unthanks Lyrics
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Well in a coal black tunnel, Sir, I hurry corves to earn my pay
The corves are full of coal, kind Sir, I push them with my hands and head
It isn't lady-like, but Sir, you've got to earn your daily bread
I push them with my hands and head, and so my hair gets worn away
You see this baldy patch I've got, it shames me like I just can't say
A lady's hands are lily white, but mine are full of cuts and segs
And since I'm pushing all the time, I've great big muscles on my legs
I try to be respectable, but sir, the shame, God save my soul
I work with naked, sweating men who curse and swear and hew the coal
The sights, the smells, the sounds, kind Sir, not even God could sense my shame
I say my prayers, but what's the use? Tomorrow will be just the same
Now, sometimes, Sir, I don't feel well, my stomach's sick, my head it aches
I've got to hurry best I can. My knees feel weak, my back near breaks
And then I'm slow, and then I'm scared these naked men will batter me
They can't be blamed, but if I'm slow, their families will starve, you see
All the lads, they laugh at me, and Sir, the mirror tells me why
Pale and dirty can't look nice. It doesn't matter how I try
Great big muscles on my legs, a baldy patch upon my head
A lady, Sir? Oh, no, not me! I should have been a boy instead
I praise your good intentions, Sir, I love your kind and gentle heart
But now it's 1842, and you and me, we're miles apart
A hundred years and more will pass before we're walking side by side
But please accept my grateful thanks. God bless you Sir, at least you tried
The Testimony of Patience Kershaw by The Unthanks is a song that recounts the harrowing testimony of Patience Kershaw, a young girl who worked in a coal mine in the mid-19th century. Through her words, we see the brutal reality of life in the mines, where even women and children were expected to work long hours with no protection or dignity. Patience speaks of the hardship she endures, pushing coal corves with her hands and head and suffering from cuts, bruises, and a loss of hair. She is ashamed of her bald spot and calloused hands, which are a reminder of the physical toll the work takes on her.
Perhaps the most disturbing part of the song is when Patience speaks of the naked, sweating men she works alongside. They curse and swear as they toil, making it clear that this is no place for a lady. Patience is aware of how inappropriate her presence is in such an environment, but she has no choice. She must work to survive, even if it means sacrificing her dignity and femininity in the process. The song is a powerful reminder of the struggles that ordinary people endured during the Industrial Revolution, and it highlights the importance of fighting for workers' rights and better living conditions.
Line by Line Meaning
It's good of you to ask me, Sir, to tell you how I spend the day
I appreciate you taking interest in my daily struggles, Sir.
Well in a coal black tunnel, Sir, I hurry corves to earn my pay
I work hard in dark coal mines and rush to move heavy carts to earn my wages.
The corves are full of coal, kind Sir, I push them with my hands and head
The carts are filled with coal and I use my hands and head to push them along the rough path.
It isn't lady-like, but Sir, you've got to earn your daily bread
It's not considered proper for a woman to work in such conditions, but I have no choice but to support myself.
I push them with my hands and head, and so my hair gets worn away
The constant strain of pushing the carts with my head and hands has caused significant hair loss.
You see this baldy patch I've got, it shames me like I just can't say
The bald spot on my head is embarrassing and makes me feel ashamed.
A lady's hands are lily white, but mine are full of cuts and segs
A lady's hands are typically soft and smooth, but mine are rough and scarred from the demanding work I do.
And since I'm pushing all the time, I've great big muscles on my legs
The constant pushing of carts has caused my leg muscles to grow large and strong.
I try to be respectable, but sir, the shame, God save my soul
Despite trying to maintain my dignity, the shame of my work and living conditions is overwhelming.
I work with naked, sweating men who curse and swear and hew the coal
I work alongside men who are unclothed, covered in sweat, and shout vulgarities while mining coal.
The sights, the smells, the sounds, kind Sir, not even God could sense my shame
The filthy and unpleasant conditions of the mines cannot be fully conveyed, even to God.
I say my prayers, but what's the use? Tomorrow will be just the same
Despite my faith, I am resigned to the fact that my work and life will continue to be difficult and unchanging.
Now, sometimes, Sir, I don't feel well, my stomach's sick, my head it aches
At times, I feel ill and suffer from stomach and head discomfort.
I've got to hurry best I can. My knees feel weak, my back near breaks
Despite feeling unwell, I must work as hard as I can, which causes me to experience weakness and pain in my knees and back.
And then I'm slow, and then I'm scared these naked men will batter me
If I am unable to work as fast as the other men, I fear they will physically harm me for slowing them down.
All the lads, they laugh at me, and Sir, the mirror tells me why
The other men mock and ridicule me, and when I see myself in the mirror, I understand why.
Pale and dirty can't look nice. It doesn't matter how I try
My pale and dirty appearance cannot be improved, no matter how hard I attempt to make myself look presentable.
Great big muscles on my legs, a baldy patch upon my head
My physical appearance has been altered by the demanding work I do, with large leg muscles and a bald spot on my head.
A lady, Sir? Oh, no, not me! I should have been a boy instead
I do not consider myself a lady due to my challenging work and appearance and believe it would have been preferable to have been born a male.
I praise your good intentions, Sir, I love your kind and gentle heart
I appreciate your well-meaning attitude, Sir, and your compassionate nature.
But now it's 1842, and you and me, we're miles apart
Although you seem understanding, there is a significant divide between the privileged and the working class.
A hundred years and more will pass before we're walking side by side
It will take a significant amount of time for society to progress and see the worth of all individuals, regardless of their social class.
But please accept my grateful thanks. God bless you Sir, at least you tried
Despite the significant social barriers, I am grateful for your attempt to understand and empathize with my struggles, and I wish you well.
Contributed by Carson B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Folk Me
What a heart wrenching song.Sad to think that this was the plight of thousands upon thousands of children in many industries in 19th century Britain.
Sid Pheasant
Never been a socialist, but if I were to switch over, it would be this song that would do it. Never fails to captivate and move. This being the United Kingdom, a country that managed to keep its citizens free from invasion and wanton destruction for centuries, it's easy to check the Census records for Patience Kershaw. She died in 1869, aged 42, and never married. It was Lord Shaftesbury and his Committee who heard testimony from the 17-year-old Patience, so presumably that great man is the "Sir" whom Patience recognises for having "tried", in the context of the song.
Richard Ashton
Yes Sid, life is tough for most people most of the time. But socialism is not the answer. Try reading the Gulag Archpelago, or check how any real-life marxist régime turns out in practice.
ChrisEchoes
Marxism doesnt equate socialism. In fact it is socialism perverted into a totalitarian system.
Stephen Parkin
@Richard Ashton - About the same as capitalism, for the vast majority of us.
Dan Meehan
Simple classic folk music. For people like me who have just discovered the Unthanks, this is great stuff.
Richard Ashton
Classic folk music, with a string quartet?
musik102
Amazing!
Over 100 postings and not one reference to the composer of the song: Frank Higgins.
I knew Frank from the Liverpool folk music scene back in the 60s.
Strangely, I only knew him as a performer of blues material, and I was floored when he came up with this classic.
Unfortunately, Frank passed away many years ago.
Folk Me
Thank you for the information.I didn't know who composed this and always assumed that it must of been written at least a century ago.It's such a moving song and always brings me close to tears.I'll have to try to look into Frank's other material.Thanks again.
Sa Musz
The reference to Frank Higgins is actually in the video description, as performer. But the fact that he's also the composer isn't. Great catch ! Thanks