The Testimony Of Patience Kershaw

It's good of you to ask me sir

to tell you how I spend my day

Well in the coal black tunnel sir

I hurry coves to earn my pay

The coves are full of coal kind sir

I push them with my hands and head

It isn't ladylike but sir

you've got to earn you daily bread

I push them with my hands and head

and so my hair gets worn away

you see this baldy patch I've got

it shames me like I just can't say

A lady's hands are lily white

but mine are full of cuts and segs(?)

and since I'm pushing all the time

I've great big muscles on my legs

I try to be respectable

But sir, the shame, god save my soul

I work with naked sweating men

who curse and swear and chew the coal

The sight, the smell, the sound kind sir

not even god and sense me shame

I say my prayers but what's the use

tomorrow will be just the same

Now sometimes sir I don't feel well

my stomach's sick, my head it aches

I've got to hurry best I can

my knees feel weak, my back near breaks

and then I'm slow and then I'm scared

these naked men will batter me

they can't be blamed, for if I'm slow

their families will starve you see

All the lads they laugh at me

and so the mirror tells me why

pale and dirty, can't look nice

it doesn't matter how I try

Great big muscles on my legs

Baldy patch upon my head

Lady, sir, oh no not me

I should've been a boy instead

I praise you good intentions sir

I love you kind and gentle heart

but now it's 1842

and you and me we're miles apart

100 years or more will pass

before we're walking side by side

but please accept my grateful thanks

god bless you sir, at least you tried