The story of a typical nineteenth century working man who travelled to where the work was. Those travels led Robert Mutten from Norfolk to Australia to North Yorkshire and to County Durham, from farm labourer to seaman to gold miner to ironstone miner to coal miner.
lyrics
ROBERT MUTTEN’S JOURNEY
My name is Robert Mutten, in Norfolk was I born.
I was pressed into the Navy and sailed around the Horn.
The Navy taught me carpentry and how to sail the sea
Then I returned to England and married my Sahree.
I worked my way at what I could but then the children came
And times were hard and costly with the price of Corn Law grain.
This hand to mouth existence, it slowly ground us down.
Then the news of Australian gold spread through Yarmouth Town.
Well, when I heard this news, Sir, I knew gold mining was for me.
We all shipped aboard a clipper ship that sailed for the southern sea.
After six months storm and tempest, in Australia we arrived
And set up camp at Cowies Creek where we just about survived.
I got myself a partner and we found gold aplenty.
We were doing fine with two more girls and turning into gentry.
We set off back to England our new won wealth to show.
I left my partner to mind the mine and send what I was due.
Well, I got back to Norfolk and we had another bairn
But from Australia no money came, I had to set to and earn.
Work was hard to come by that could earn me proper pay
Then I heard from a seaman of ironstone mines up Whitby way.
Well, we shipped aboard a Cat, Sir, bound for Whitby Town.
We walked from Whitby to Goathland across moors, up hill and down.
We looked for a place to live, Sir, and at Beckhole found a house,
The mining had gone from Beckhole so to Grosmont we trudged, no grouse.
In Summer we went sailing and wintered down the mine.
The next three years weren’t easy but we seemed to be doing fine.
I had three more girl bairns born, the eldest were earning their keep,
So, life was easier than in the past, still, a miner’s life is cheap.
Then, in 1880, Grosmont miners struck
And though the union settled, they never took me back.
Then I heard they’d got a new owner improving Trimdon Pit.
So we up sticks to Trimdon, aged fifty nine, my last flit.
So, Doctor, you know my story, how I came to Trimdon Grange,
Mining coal for a living far from seas I used to range,
Far from Freethorpe, Norfolk, the place where I was born
And, Doctor, there’s a sea fog around me and I hear a distant horn.
TONY MORRIS is an Own Brand Performer and Entertainer who performs his own songs and music.".
Currently running
Covideo Folk Club Facebook Group.
About 200 rough and ready warts and all videos on his Facebook Profile Site, Be amazed....more
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