The Old Song Resung

March 7, 2020 9:31 AM

“On Cape Breton Island, where coal mining and steel making were once an essential part of the region’s culture and economy, protest song and verse are found in abundance. The Protest Song Project is an initiative of The Centre for Cape Breton Studies at Cape Breton University. The program’s goal is to preserve and promote the protest songs and verse that represent the region’s rich industrial heritage.” Volume 1 - Volume 2
posted by The Whelk (2 comments total)

The first few I tried were much like labor songs anywhere else. Had to click on a few before I started finding ones that showed more influence from one of Cape Breton Island's other rich heritages -- its traditional music.
posted by Nerd of the North at 12:03 PM on March 7, 2020

I have roots in Cape Breton, and my husband was born there. My own father came out West in the '70s but my husband's father was a coal miner in Inverness. He died of cancer shortly after he retired, long before I met my husband. You can still see some of the company houses in Inverness. Thanks for this post.
posted by kitcat at 3:22 PM on March 7, 2020