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about

Traditional. Our source for this version is Hedy West. One of many songs chronicling the hardships of life in the cotton mills, most of which are now gone overseas or replaced by automation.

lyrics

I worked in the cotton mill all my life
Aint’ got nothing but a barlow knife
It’s hard times cotton mill girls
Hard times everywhere.

CHO: It’s hard times cotton mill girls
Hard times cotton mill girls
Hard times cotton mill girls
Hard times everywhere.

In 1915 we heard it said
Move to cotton country and get ahead
It’s hard times cotton mill girls
Hard times everywhere.

From Gilmer to Bartow’s a long long way
Down Cartecay from Ellijay
It’s hard times cotton mill girl
Hard times everywhere.

Us kids worked 12 hours a day
For 14 cents of measly pay
It’s hard times cotton mill girls
Hard times everywhere.

When I die don’t bury me at all
Just hang me up on the spinning room wall
And pickle my bones in alcohol
It’s hard times cotton mill girls.

credits

from Tear Down the Fences, released August 7, 2017
Alice Gerrard-lead vocal, fiddle
Kay Justice-harmony vocal, guitar
Gail Gillespie-harmony vocal, banjo

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Alice Gerrard Durham, North Carolina

A singer and songwriter, Alice’s recordings with Hazel Dickens during the 1960s and ’70s influenced a generation of women musicians from Laurie Lewis to the Judds. Nominated for a Grammy in 2015, she was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Assoc. Hall of Fame in 2017. A documentary film about Alice, "You Gave Me a Song" premiered at the Full Frame Independent Film Festival in 2019. ... more

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