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In Struggle

from Valley Home by Joe Vickers

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about

Little to no preparations were made for the large influx of workers who migrated to the valley for employment. In the labour camps, makeshift “chicken coop” houses were constructed out of scrap materials, straw and manure with up to six men living under one roof, struggling against starvation, discomfort and unsanitary conditions. While the mining community was lacking in fiscal figures, they shared a wealth in pride for their labour. At times, the common bond of struggle was the utmost unifying theme which brought camaraderie within the ethnically diverse mining communities.

lyrics

The sunlight shines through the walls
Of the whitewash chicken coop I call
My dear old shack, my home sweet home
With three others I’m bunked along

In the labour camp I call “the world”
So it is as far as I can see
After all, the boys here to work are of
Nearly every nationality

We don’t share a language
We don’t share a heritage
Yet we are bound by this profession and strife
And in this struggle we are unified

All the fights have led to losses
Against the owners and the bosses
We’ve been silenced, we’ve been condemned
Yet we’ll agitate until we win

Because the roll backs
And credit given
Is no way to make
An honest living

When they take the bread
And give us the crust
It stratifies like the
Walls surrounding us

There’s no denying, brothers
We have strength in numbers
Right here is where our politics align
In this struggle we are unified

credits

from Valley Home, released July 19, 2011

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Joe Vickers Drumheller, Alberta

Farmer by day, troubadour by night, Joe Vickers has logged countless miles on both his combine and tour van. His music explores the human spirit singing of the triumphs and tragedies of everyday life on the prairies.

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