Digital Tradition Mirror

This notation is pretty simple; dark circles mean covered holes; empty circles mean uncovered holes; a '+' below means to blow harder to get the upper octave; a '#' below means this note is too low for the whistle chosen and you'll have to fake it :) The author of this program always plays accidentals by closing holes, so you'll never see half-covered holes.

When I was starting, I found notation like this to be very helpful, and I know plenty of people who have trouble reading music who find this notation easier. Good luck!

After the Strike

(C whistle)

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
(Choose a whistle key: A B C D E F G Ab Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb A# B# C# D# E# F# G#)
Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

After the Strike
(Joseph A. Hemer)
     Air-"After the Ball"

Once a pretty maiden climbed an old man's knee
  Asked for a story-"Papa tell me,
Why are you lonely, why are you sad,
  Why do your shopmates call you a scab?"
I had friends, pet, long, long ye-ars ago,
  How I lost them you soon shall know;
I'll tell it all, pet, tell all my shame;
  I was a scab, pet, I was to blame."

cho: After the strike is over,
     After the men have won,
     After the shops have opened,
     After the notice is down;
     Many the heart is aching,
     Though the hope seems bright
     That many a scab will vanish
     After the strike.

Brave men were fighting, standing side by side,
  Fighting for justice, fighting with pride,
I then was with them---with them heart and soul,
  But when the test came, I left them in the cold,
I thought it best, pet, best to turn a scab;
  Best to return, pet, to the job I had,
That's why I'm lonely, that's why I'm sad,
  That's why my shopmates call me a scab.

cho:

Many years have passed, pet, since I won that name,
  And in song and story they have told my shame,
I have tried to tell them, tried to explain,
  But they will not listen, pleading is in vain;
Everywhere I wander, everywhere I roam,
  The story of my shame is sure to find my home,
I'd give my life, pet, I'd give my all,
  If I had not turned traitor, or scabbed at all.

cho:

From American Labor Songs of the Nineteenth Century, Foner
Note: published in the United Mine Workers' Journal, May 24, 1894
RG

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!