The testimony of Patience Kershaw-The Unthanks

[ti:The testimony of Patience Kers] [ar:The Unthanks] [al:A Retrospective] [by:] [offset:0] [00:09.50]It's good of you to ask me Sir to tell you how I spend the day [00:16.06]Well in a coal black tunnel Sir I hurry corves to earn my pay [00:25.44]The corves are full of coal kind Sir I push them with my hands and head [00:32.75]It isn't lady-like but Sir you've got to earn your daily bread [00:45.06]I push them with my hands and head and so my hair gets worn away [00:52.94]You see this baldy patch I've got it shames me like I just can't say [00:58.63]A lady's hands are lily white but mine are full of cuts and segs [01:10.81]And since I'm pushing all the time I've great big muscles on my legs [01:21.75] [01:24.51]I try to be respectable but sir the shame God save my soul [01:31.57]I work with naked sweating men who curse and swear and hew the coal [01:40.44]The sights the smells the sounds kind Sir not even God could sense my shame [01:48.44]I say my prayers but what's the use Tomorrow will be just the same [01:55.82] [02:04.19]Now sometimes Sir I don't feel well my stomach's sick my head it aches [02:11.31]I've got to hurry best I can My knees feel weak my back near breaks [02:18.50]And then I'm slow and then I'm scared these naked men will batter me [02:27.75]They can't be blamed but if I'm slow their families will starve you see [02:43.25]All the lads they laugh at me and Sir the mirror tells me why [02:52.50]Pale and dirty can't look nice It doesn't matter how I try [02:58.75]Great big muscles on my legs a baldy patch upon my head [03:06.56]A lady Sir Oh no not me I should have been a boy instead [03:13.50] [03:20.71]I praise your good intentions Sir I love your kind and gentle heart [03:28.52]But now it's 1842 and you and me we're miles apart [03:37.34]A hundred years and more will pass before we're walking side by side [03:44.71]But please accept my grateful thanks God bless you Sir at least you tried