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The Cropper Lads

from Liminal Paths by JoAnna Farrer

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This song, which I first found via the Yorkshire Garland Group, tells the story of the Cropper Lads, who fought against the introduction of machinery that put them out of work in the mills, during the early 19th century. As listed on the Yorkshire Garland Group website: "Croppers, although relatively few in numbers, played a central part in the activities of the machine-breaking Luddites in Yorkshire. Prior to the introduction of machinery to do the job they had been top-grade apprenticed craftsmen, trained to produce a smooth even nap on the woollen cloth after it had been woven. They cropped the woven cloth with heavy shears and were highly skilled, and relatively highly paid so had more to lose than most by the introduction of the machinery. Prior to this they had blacked any cloth produced in a gig mill and therefore had already shown their anti-machinery stance and solidarity with the weavers. Thus croppers joined the Nottinghamshire Luddites in raids on mills to break the machinery which resulted in desperate battles between mill-owners backed by the police and militia, and the Luddites, which resulted in much bloodshed and even death."

According to the Folklorist Frank Peel, this song was written by the Luddite John Walker, who first sang it at a meeting of the Liversedge and Huddersfield Croppers at the Shears Inn in Liversedge in February 1812, prior to the start of direct action in the area.

The tune that follows the song is a Scottish traditional reel from the Skye Collection, called "Miss Nisbet of Dirleton."


The album concludes with this track, and rather than attempt to explain why, I'll just quote the brilliant author and philosopher, Wendell Berry:

"Go with your love to the fields.
Lie down in the shade. Rest your head
in her lap. Swear allegiance
to what is nighest your thoughts.

As soon as the generals and the politicos
can predict the motions of your mind,
lose it. Leave it as a sign
to mark the false trail, the way
you didn’t go.

Be like the fox
who makes more tracks than necessary,
some in the wrong direction.
Practice resurrection.”

lyrics

The Cropper Lads
English traditional

Come, cropper lads of great renown,
Who love to drink good ale that’s brown,
And strike each haughty tyrant down
With ’atchet, pike and gun.

CHORUS:
The cropper lads for me,
And gallant lads they’ll be,
With lusty stroke the shearframes broke,
The cropper lads for me.

What though the specials still advance,
And soldiers nightly round us prance,
The cropper lads still lead the dance,
With ’atchet, pike and gun.

[CHORUS]

And night by night when all is still,
And the moon is hid behind the hill,
We forward march to do our will,
With ’atchet, pike and gun.

[CHORUS]

Great Enoch he shall lead the van,
Stop him who dares, stop him who can,
Press forward every gallant man,
With ’atchet, pike and gun.

[CHORUS]

credits

from Liminal Paths, released November 5, 2021
JoAnna Farrer, vocals and violin
Natalie Haas, cello
Elana Low, harmonium and harmony vocals
Shannon Heaton, flute
Joey Abarta, uilleann pipes

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JoAnna Farrer image

JoAnna Farrer Vermont

JoAnna’s eclectic musical style encompasses traditional Scottish and Irish music, as well as the Classical music she has performed professionally since age 7. JoAnna’s debut album, 'Liminal Paths' (Nov 2021) features cellist Natalie Haas and guitarist Yann Falquet.
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A Juilliard graduate and current member of the NJ Symphony Orchestra, JoAnna has performed and recorded around the world. ... more

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