Willie Watson, "Birmingham Mill," // GemsOnVHS™

[@wadehwallace]

Such a powerful labor ballad, it sounds like it was transported straight from the 1890's. Songs about working class life, songs that express the pain and suffering that often entails, are pretty uncommon these days, which makes this song even more special.

[@kevlarkid928]

Also, Gems, go ahead and publish all the rest of the footage of this session anytime now. Like.. Nowish

[@GemsOnVHS]

I can't he won't let me. The last song is fucking incredible though. Slim and the Devil. So relevant too.

[@kevlarkid928]

Aww man. That's a bummer. I hope there comes a time you can.

[@HazeGreyAndUnderway]

@@GemsOnVHS thanks for keeping up with Willie in the first place. Such a genuine human being. Pretty much any of his material can move me to tears, he pours his heart and soul into it. Been tearing up to this song for the past three hours now.

[@barbarapettry6817]

Man, Sir, You and this song both sound like You came straight from Ireland.

[@thatdude6313]

Found this in rehab and made me miss playing music so much I just got out and ordered another banjo thanks for this

[@cedarriver]

I tend to forget everything around me when listening to Willie's songs, awesome work once again. Lyrics below, missing one word in the first verse, help me out if you can. Hard to translate the banjo melody to chords, but if you like, you can play along with these chords (Capo on 2) all the way through: G G G G G G D D G G Em Em D C Em Em D D G G [Verse 1] One fair girl with fine yellow hair Wild flower of the west country Plucked one night for a stormy ride On a winding road to the east [Verse 2] One fair girl at the Birmingham Mill For a dollar and a half times three See the spinning wheels turn, she is young but she'll learn With her slender white hands to weave [Verse 3] Twelve smoke stacks in a row row row And a girl of five times three See the mill boss patrol, hear the factory bells toll And the girls look as sad as can be And she cried for her home country [Verse 4] One little spark set a light to a flame And the fire climbed through to the eaves And the roof it crashed and the girls all dashed And they all cried "oh god please" And she crawled on her hands and her knees [Verse 5] At the Birmingham Mill where the wild flowers grow Round the grave of the girl so fair See the lilly bells bloom round her cold marble tomb And they come in the spring of the year

[@musicalhealer2143]

I believe it’s, “left.” It’s what I heard.

[@zachsmith5399]

I heard plopped?

[@user-qt4xn9dc2p]

its a but @ your ???

[@bouch2442]

plucked

[@zachsmith5399]

@@bouch2442 yea I heard plopped/plucked i thought plopped made more sense but I don't see how either fits

[@danielreeves2138]

Gosh oh how bad I want to work for GemsOnVHS and video and connect too with such unbelievable musicians

[@MCPUGGINS231]

GEMs and Willie have been a lockdown saviour for me

[@samuelthurman5331]

He sounds like the ghost of every song I never new I wanted to hear!

[@kapitolking]

Always excited to see a new Willie Watson video.

[@southwestwifarm3516]

It’s not often musicians can conjure the feelings and imagery of decades ago in words, this song is beautiful

[@earlycox5366]

outstanding!!! cant stop listening to this.

[@carterhemeon-gill2830]

Great song Willie love it! Can't wait for more. Thanks for the great content Gems On VHS

[@DR-ZBrian]

What an absolute masterpiece! I love bluegrass, so nice to see someone young do such a good job bringing it back around.

[@kevlarkid928]

Such a genuine artist.

[@jamiebarry8215]

I will listen to this forever there’s just something about the banjo and the lyrics actually tell a story

[@maryalice5357]

There's a great play about Mother Jones and her life in labor reform. Songs written just for the play. Inspired woman.

[@jevanthompson9979]

What a beautiful song, absolutley loved it!

[@PRRrailfan]

Willie is so incredible. It broke my heart when he left Old Crow, but his solo career has been fantastic.

[@nomanslee1]

Hope all is well, this made my day. Thanks. 🤘🏼

[@erinlee4826]

Thank you soo much for what you do gemsonvhs... everytime my son hears a banjo or a guitar he starts dancing and I can tell it brings him soo much joy as it does me and his dad 💙

[@Thekidfromcalifornia2.0]

One of my favorite modern folk singers.

[@kaylavonderheide]

So weird I was just listening to him a lot last night. So gorgeous!

[@natalimenacher1981]

That voice ❤️❤️

[@markrush5013]

such an awesome voice

[@JohnSmith-kt2xb]

Great Willy be grroovy to hear more OCMS tunages such as Evening Sun played solo

[@coolguy54life99]

My god I love that dude, wish he'd come back to Columbus Ohio again

[@heathkish6901]

Shit, he came to Columbus? I missed that one!

[@fozy2349]

One of my favorite on the channel.

[@IBOGW]

He’s reminding me of Bruce Molsky here. Good stuff.

[@petejunior47]

I thought he made old crow shine. He shines alone just fine,

[@finalgirl11]

I learned to play this on banjo a few years ago just because I loved the simple melody so much! I'm glad to see a new video of him performing it

[@stevewilliamson9995]

Incredible tune. Had a chance to shake to shake his and chat for a minute at Targhee Bluegrass a couple years ago.

[@Haverschmidt]

I love his sound. Thanks for this! Can’t be enough Willie Watson video’s out there.

[@samueltyree8966]

Love that voice. So unique

[@ronhamby657]

Love Willie Watson, old crow misses him

[@roryross3878]

Very haunting, fine job

[@taylormorris_]

That's a well seasoned banja right therr!!

[@richardsouthgate1993]

Wss Over the moon witnessed him at the Garage, Islington, London 🇬🇧 , Blinding Nite

[@eliasmartinez4260]

Genuine content. Thanks Gems!

[@davidgrooms8251]

Admiring your turning tools in the background 👍

[@hewhoadds]

Workers rights are human rights

[@griffinc9071]

I believe the melody is to an old English folk song - heard it on one of Nic Jones' albums.

[@spencerwilletts9705]

Oh man how I missed Willie!!

[@gnarzikans]

all power to the workers

[@johnpaul2285]

Thank you

[@jeffj318]

Great song. I always wonder if that is Willie's workshop?

[@GemsOnVHS]

That's Timmy findlens workshop, he's an amazing puppeteer and toymaker, not to mention musician.

[@adamosullivan5839]

I know people rarely read the video description but I adore your little stories about the singer/songwriter and the little story behind it. I know you sorta copy the Alan Lomax archives way of filming but that is what makes the video genuine. Am sorta drunk but that makes sense t9 me

[@GemsOnVHS]

thanks Adam!

[@triddell]

Excellent!

[@baphomick]

my hero

[@roving_brah]

Willie Watson plays "Willie Moore" lol

[@ryanbrandenburgmusic]

The ancient folk tradition of stealing a melody and changing the words haha. At least it’s gorgeous though!

[@adamosullivan5839]

It sorta has the same tune as a few Irish songs, but I can't place it. If he ever plans on playing in Ireland; specifically the Kerry area please contact me, I can try get yourself into somewhat large events.

[@rebeccamargolis7647]

It has the same melody as Willie Moore and maybe another song or two?

[@vincent4226]

I wonder if that’s the banjo Willie found out in Boone NC?

[@loafheader]

someone tell me what this tune is? ive heard it before but not with these lyric but cant put my finger on the original, okay folks ive found the song that i heard its called Joe McCann about a irish freedom fighter but im not sure if its the first song with that tune. (it was released 01/01/1978)

[@mattfoster5090]

Willie Moore

[@loafheader]

@@mattfoster5090 cheers fella!!

[@cjhughes50beautifulunits36]

When are the Gems On VHS shirts coming out? I needs one!

[@GemsOnVHS]

on the website my friend

[@derrickcompher3624]

What's " the work song"? I'm interested in listening to it but I don't know who to look for it by. Can someone help me out?

[@ppDon211]

🙏

[@lucageistbeck7400]

Is this song on Spotify ??? PLS

[@lukeshawmusic]

👏🏼

[@formalshark3984]

this guy looks like a mix between Jim Carrey, and Val Kilmer. great song!

[@tmckmusic8584]

Just found Willie Watson...pretty cool. Anyone have a favorite song of his I should check out? ✌

[@edwardcutler8024]

He looks astonishingly like James Vincent McMorrow

[@InstruMentalCase]

Thank you for posting this! I had never heard Willie so this is a fantastic find. Any idea if this tune is on an album yet?

[@BenCalza]

If James Marsden played country music ..

[@Twelvegagesage]

Tabs??

[@Anthracite84]

Why would you add vocal effects to his voice? Love Willie but he’s perfect naturally.

[@h2obreathe]

Willie was just getting started talking about the song afterward and the interviewer decided to talk over him instead. Damn.

[@JOHNNYHAULAWAY]

That ONE THUMBS DOWN guy is Toby Keith's number 1 fan....

[@dame225]

I must account for a good 1k of the views so far I play this so much

[@tomorrow2964]

Yeah, right.t like.e that.t

[@jacklandismusic]

Wearing clothes made himself, playing a banjo in a workshop. Doesn’t get any cooler.

[@joelshaw4772]

Buster scruggs brought me here

[@AxeMoose]

Irish folk derivative for sure.

[@dame225]

Didn’t know Jim Carrey was such a mean bango player