This coal mining song from Northeast Pennsylvania - the anthracite coal region - was collected by folklorist George Korson and is included in his book "Minstrels of The Mine Patch". The song is a funny little ditty meant to add a bit of humor to a hard and oppressive workplace. It also dates back to the times when mines used mules to haul coal from the working coal veins up to the surface.
Folksinger Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou has added some new verses here and uses this song to tell the story of her grandfather, a Slavic miner that crossed the ocean and ended up in the small town of Jermyn, PA, a town known as the birthplace of first aid. Both Daria's grandfather - Efrem Marmaluk and her greatgrandfather - Aftanasi Wartonick worked as miners in the D+H Mines. Efrem died early from the effects of a hard life and from black lung. This song is dedicated to both of these man who braved difficult and dangerous conditions in order to support their loved ones.
You can hear this song on the CD: Come From A Coal Town [ Ссылка ]
You can also hear another song about Efrem Marmaluk, here: [ Ссылка ]
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