Hazel Dickens: It's Hard to Tell the Singer from the Song | movie | 2002 | Official Clip
A biography of singer Hazel Dickens. | dG1fdllDSlU0cmJ5Z28
Transcript
00:00 I'm a fifth generation coal miner.
00:12 We first heard songs from Hazel after the '68 disaster at Farmington.
00:19 And then, of course, the Black Lung inspirational songs from her, and then the organizing songs
00:25 during the Harlan County efforts at Brookside.
00:30 Her music carried that message out of the areas where the strike was ongoing to others.
00:35 It inspired other labor leaders and other unions to get involved, and other progressive
00:40 people across the country to say, "What's going on?"
00:44 And it helped educate government officials, and maybe inspire people who were of good
00:50 will.
00:51 It might be sympathetic to the miners' cause to go forward and help pass legislation to
00:57 protect coal miners.
00:59 We read in the paper and the radio tell, us to raise our children to be miners as well.
01:10 Tell them how safe the mines are today, and to be like Daddy, bring home a big pay.
01:25 Now don't you believe them, my boy, that story's a lie.
01:34 Remember the disaster at the Mannington mine, where 78 miners were buried alive, because
01:50 of unsafe conditions your daddy died.
02:03 They lure you with money, it sure is a sight, when you may never live to see daylight.
02:16 With your name up on the big headline, like that awful disaster at the Mannington mine.
02:30 There's a man in a big house way up on the hill, far, far from the place where the poor
02:40 miners fell.
02:41 He's got plenty of money, Lord, everything's fine, and he has forgotten the Mannington
02:55 mine.
02:56 Forgotten, forgotten, the Mannington mine.
03:03 There is a great way down in the Mannington mine.
03:18 Oh, what were their last thoughts, what were their cries, as the flames overtook them in
03:45 the Mannington mine.
03:49 So don't you believe them, my boy, that story's a lie.
04:01 Remember the disaster at the Mannington mine, where 78 good men so uselessly died.
04:21 How can God forgive you, you do know what you've done.
04:45 You killed my husband, now you want my son.
04:46 You killed my husband, now you want my son.
04:51 You killed my husband, now you want my son.
04:56 You killed my husband, now you want my son.
05:02 You killed my husband, now you want my son.
05:08 You killed my husband, now you want my son.
05:14 You killed my husband, now you want my son.
05:19 You killed my husband, now you want my son.
05:26 You killed my husband, now you want my son.
05:33 You killed my husband, now you want my son.
05:40 You killed my husband, now you want my son.
05:45 You killed my husband, now you want my son.
05:50 You killed my husband, now you want my son.
05:55 You killed my husband, now you want my son.
06:00 You killed my husband, now you want my son.
06:05 United we stand, divided we fall, for every dime they give us a battle must be fought.
06:13 So working people, use your power, the key to liberty, don't support that rich man's style of luxury.
06:21 And there ain't no way they can ever keep us down, oh no, ain't no way they can ever keep us down.
06:29 We won't be bought, we won't be sold, to be treated right, but that's our goal, and there ain't no way they can ever keep us down.
06:38 So Hazel basically sings songs that says, look, rich folks are getting richer, and the folks down below aren't sharing in that.
06:46 It's a basic message that the people we represent and see every day care a lot more about the supermarket than the stock market.
06:56 And I think that's more true today than ever.
06:59 And I want to thank you on behalf of the UMWA for your expression of solidarity with them in their struggle.
07:07 Thank you.
07:16 Well down in Russell County, no neutrals can be found. You'll either be a union man or one of those Pittsburgh clowns.
07:28 Which side are you on? Which side are you on? Tell me.
07:33 Which side are you on? Which side are you on? Oh, which side are you on? Which side are you on?
07:44 Tell me. Which side are you on? Which side are you on?
07:52 Thank you very much for your time and for your money. UMWA, ladies and gentlemen.
07:57 [Applause]
08:11 [Silence]