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THE OLDHAM TINKERS

pity me my darling


Pity Me My Darling

Vocal and Guitar Gerry Kearns; Vocal John Howarth; Vocal and Mandolin Larry Kearns.




Chorus
Oh pity me my darling
It’s pity me I say
It’s pity me my darling
And carry me away



Come all you weary factory girls
I’ll have you understand
I’m going to leave this factory
And return to my own land.



No more I’ll leave my bobbin’s up
No more I’ll take them down,
No more I’ll clean my dirty work
​For I’m going out of town




Chorus
Oh pity me my darling
It’s pity me I say
It’s pity me my darling
And carry me away




For since they’ve taken our wages down
To nine shillings a week
If I cannot better wages make
Some other place I’ll seek


We wonder how the masters
Can such machinery make
A thousand wheels together role 
Without the least mistake,


Chorus
Oh pity me my darling
It’s pity me I say
It’s pity me my darling
And carry me away



Pity Me My Darling
Charles Chilton the radio producer , writer and musical researcher introduced the Oldham Tinkers to this song in 1968. The trio was absolutely incensed when he asked ‘Do you read?’ when he was preparing them for a programme. John replied: ‘Course we do.’ The lads were abashed when they found out he was referring to music.
It is hardly likely that the song which is really a girl’s song, was written by a girl working in the mill, though it would be nice to think so. Rather it was probably  made by somebody formally educated with some knowledge of the plight of cotton spinning operatives.
The words are put to a tune which is more often associated with Old Joe Clark.




Pity Me My Darling

Sit Thee Down LP Notes
Sit Thee Down The Oldham Tinkers L.P. 12TS323 STEREO
First published by Topic 1977
Recorded and produced by Tony Engle in London, January 1977
Notes by Larry Kearns
Sleeve design by Tony Engle
Illustration by John Atkinson


Re-released on C.D. by Pier Records in 2002 under licence from Topic Records Ltd, England.
The C.D. The Oldham Tinkers, ‘Sit Thee Down’ PIERCD 505
A classic Lancashire folk album, available for the first time on CD, with four bonus tracks and full song notes.



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