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Although the opening title of this Mining Review item (the fourth in the series Songs of the Coalfields) claims that this is a Lancashire ballad from the turn of the century, 'The Plodder Seam' was actually written in 1937 by the folk singer Ewan MacColl (1915-1989) - though the geographical reference is correct, as the song was both about and intended for the workers of Ashton Colliery in Lancashire. The lyrics are MacColl's, though the melody was adapted from a traditional Irish song, 'The Boys of Ballinamore'. This mining equivalent of a music video features a performance of the song for voice and guitar accompanied by images of Ashton Colliery in action, appropriately chosen to match the lyrics. These concentrate overwhelmingly on the sheer hard graft of being a miner, concluding with a heartfelt "I'd rather sweep the streets/Than have to burrow like a mole.". Lest this seem off-putting to audience members thinking of entering the profession, the opening title also points out that while the Plodder seam was still being worked when the film was made in 1957, it's now under "rather different" - and presumably safer - conditions. Michael Brooke
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Complete film (9:14)
