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No Redemption Songs

by Ribbon Road

supported by
MR PAUL S ROBERTS
MR PAUL S ROBERTS thumbnail
MR PAUL S ROBERTS Just listened to Mike Harding's better than excellent folk music podcast #86. One song Ribbon Road's "No Redemption" all about the miners strike in the UK. I am not ashamed to say that it brought me to tears. My father in law was a miner, a lovely honourable gentleman who went down the pit at the age of 16 with the pit ponies. My sweet mother in law, who kept her miner's house like a palace. Favorite track: Poor Jossie.
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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Digipack with original artwork by Geoff Heslop

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  • DVD + Digital Album

    DVD with a film of Keith Pattison's black and white photographs of the 1984/5 Miner's Strike in Easington with original songs by Brenda Heslop, performed by Ribbon Road

    Includes unlimited streaming of No Redemption Songs via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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  • Digipack CD of 'No Redemption Songs' and DVD with a film of Keith Pattison's black and white photographs of the 1984/5 Miner's Strike in Easington with original songs by Brenda Heslop, performed by Ribbon Road.

    Includes unlimited streaming of No Redemption Songs via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      £18 GBP or more 

     

1.
LETTING LOVE IS HARD It seems like yesterday I can feel the place around me I keep putting it away But the memories have found me Some were good and some were bad Whatever it was it breaks your heart Faces shift like moons adrift Letting love is hard It’s just like yesterday Looking in and not belonging Where they just throw life away Not caring where it lands And I still feel the lonely cold The longing for a hand to hold Where every touch is bought and sold Letting love is hard Chorus Letting love, letting love Be a friend to you Letting love, come again Letting love come through It seems like yesterday When a shilling was a fortune And a smile was more than cash You could count upon a friend But friends are few, some let you down Twenty-five pence for half a crown And bankers run this country now Letting love is hard It seems like yesterday I can feel your arms around me The wind would slow and still I sheltered from the world And all the feelings tumbling out We never spoke our hearts would shout We cannot live and never doubt That letting love is hard Chorus Letting love, letting love Be a friend to you Letting love come again Letting love come through It seems like yesterday And it’s just like the beginning When I was young and daft And all the world was singing I know it won’t be the same Cos trust was lost and lost again Don’t know if I can stand the pain Letting love is hard It feels like yesterday With the sun upon me shoulders I keep putting it away Cos the clouds are coming down But I can’t hide or stay apart From tears and smiles and broken hearts But where to land and where to start Letting love is hard Letting love, letting love Be a friend to you Letting love come again Letting love come through
2.
Poor Jossie 02:44
POOR JOSSIE They’re taking him away Made a criminal today Doesn’t matter what I say they hate us They’ll put him in a cell They don’t care that he’s not well ‘Cos they wish us all to hell they want to break us Look - I can see him in the van I’ll be lost without me man They’re pulling at his arms They want to do him harm Don’t they know he has a heart that doesn’t hold him His lungs are full of dust He retired ‘cos he must They’re the ones who broke the trust it’s on their shoulders Look - I can see him in the van I’ll be lost without me man Chorus There’s no mercy on this pit street They won’t let him go And we’re all shouting off Alma pit street Screaming let him go See that look upon his face It’s out of hand and out of place Don’t steal the days that still belong to me They haven’t got a clue What people like us do I’m telling it to you ‘Cos they just won’t let us through Stuck together with the strongest glue I can see him in the van I’ll be lost without me man Chorus There’s no mercy on this pit street They won’t let him go And we’re all shouting off Alma pit street Screaming let him go So I’m standing in the yard And I know he’s fallen hard And I’m leaning on the gate Where he knows that I will wait for him to come (There’s no mercy on this pit street And we’re all shouting, screaming let him go)
3.
FLY THE BANNER HIGH Look up and be the future Of a crying generation Look up and be the light that shines On our humiliation And be a mother to our children Be a father to our hearts Look up and smile to bring us cheer Don’t drown in foreign parts And when the sun sets past the school The windows lost to shadow Don’t pretend that we’re all fools Who went gladly to the gallows Memorise these pictures well Be the memory of our hell Look up, don’t ever let us die And fly the banner high Chorus There’s no redemption yours or mine No going back, just marking time For they have left us here to die So fly the banner high Two thousand uniforms brought in Two thousand fists to break us Two thousand reasons to begin To hate a world that hates us Black as coal, our good and true Black as blood when it soaked through Cold and hunger took us And the banner from the sky Empty as the wasteland grass Broken bottles as you pass Stand alone and never ask A favour from their hand See the shutters all pulled down See the blighted village now Look up and let this story speak In strength and dignity Chorus There’s no redemption yours or mine No going back, just marking time For they have left us here to die So fly the banner high
4.
Running Wide 03:29
RUNNING WIDE It’s the fear that gets you running wide It gets you every time It gets you speaking out of turn And dancing out of line It’s the fear that gets you by the neck It beats your heart and squeezes breath And then you know you cannot win You’ll not be heard above the din Chorus Nothing’s changed since the day Me father left the mine Nothing’s changed since the day Me mother sitting crying The rent’s to pay, then and today It’s the fear that gets you, you never rest You stay awake and try your best But when it’s coming to the test You know that you’re to blame They come and live where we belong They come and tell us we were wrong To help each other get along Without a fuss, when we were strong Chorus Nothing’s changed since the day Me father left the farm Nothing’s changed since the day Me mother on his arm The rent’s to pay, then and today It’s the fear that gets you, breaks your heart You never really get a start For waiting for the screws to twist And bring you down again They say we’re part of history now That we don’t count, we’re not allowed Upon the grass to pick the flowers For the privileged and proud The northern accent’s far too loud Chorus Nothing’s changed since the day Me father left the yard Nothing’s changed since the day Me mother took it hard The rent’s to pay, then and today It’s the fear that gets you, makes you daft They say we’re shy of work and graft They’ll never know the hope that died At sixteen leaving school wide-eyed They take the bedrooms we lived in They’re making homelessness a sin In cardboard boxes for the bin For hoody youngsters to begin To duck and dive, its getting thin Chorus Nothing’s changed since the day Me father took the dole Nothing’s changed since the day Me mother leaving home The rent’s to pay, then and today They’ve gone away, we’re here to stay It’s the fear that gets you
5.
COAL IN THE SEA Coal in the sea, that’s all we can be Waves pushing over wor heads Just bits of black in the gold and the slack Putting the baby to bed Put the baby to bed now It’s all in your head now Put the baby to sleep Coal in the sea, edges made soft From rolling and rattling around Washed by the tide that breaks a man’s pride Lost with no ear to the ground Hush, don’t make a sound now It’s all in the ground now It’s all in the ground Coal in the sea is no friend to me Bringing it back to the edge Butter and jam or tinned meat for tea That’s if we have any bread If we have any bread now Not already dead now If we have any bread Coal in the sea, lying for free Left to the mermaids and stones Nobody knows what people will see Nobody knows the way home Don’t know the way home now We’re left on wor own now Don’t know the way home Coal in the sea now it’s all we can be In summer it sticks in your toes When your paddling and laughing And letting it go for the kids Put the baby to bed Put the baby to bed now It’s already said now Put the baby to sleep Put the baby to bed now It’s already said now Put the baby to sleep Put the baby to sleep We’re just coal in the sea
6.
Dad and Me 03:33
DAD AND ME I hear the voices singing in the sea All the young lads are daring to be free Everyone on holiday everybody’s Dad at home I hear the voices clear as a bell Out in the sunshine, laughing at worselves Who would deny the kids a day like this Clear as the sea, near as can be The pit lies still, there’s flowers on the hillside We all hold wor breath, we’re that close to death Waves tickle Dad’s feet, there’s not much to eat Chorus Sometimes it’s good to be free from the tether Sometimes it’s good to breathe air and feel weather Clear as the sea, near as can be, Dad and me Out for the day, out of the way Just for a while, some even smiling And everyone shares, everyone caring We all get a piece, we can all take a seat Chorus Sometimes it’s good to be free from the tether Sometimes it’s good to breathe air and feel weather Out for the day, out of the way, Dad and me Sit by the sea, fishing with me Dad sets the rods, then he takes a nod Stretched in the sun, oh we had some fun Mam loves fish for tea and a big kiss from me Chorus Sometimes it’s good to be free from the tether Sometimes it’s good to breathe air and feel weather Sit by the sea, fishing for tea, Dad and me Out on the beach, playing for hours Swinging and laughing in boats without stopping Mam in the waves with her skirts up and squeaking Everyone jumping and Mam and Dad speaking Chorus Sometimes it’s good to be free from the tether Sometimes it’s good to breathe air and feel weather Out on the beach, playing out, Mam, Dad and me Chorus Sometimes it’s good to be free from the tether Sometimes it’s good to breathe air and feel weather Clear as the sea, near as can be, Dad and me
7.
WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO What are we gonna do The countryside is through What are we gonna do today What are we gonna do when the weather closes in And tomorrow takes the life we lived away What are we gonna do The council house is dead What are we gonna do today What are we gonna do without a roof over wor heads And tomorrow takes the life we lived away What are we gonna do What are we gonna do And tomorrow takes the life we lived away What are we gonna do The living wage is gone What are we gonna do today What are we gonna do now the dirty deed is done And tomorrow takes the life we lived away What are we gonna do There’s no future for wor kids What are we gonna do today What are we gonna do now none of us exist And tomorrow takes the life we lived away What are we gonna do What are we gonna do And tomorrow takes the life we lived away What are we gonna do The silence rings us wrong What are we gonna do today What are we gonna do now they’ve watered down wor songs And tomorrow takes the life we lived away What are we gonna do They take the work out of wor hands What are we gonna do today What are we gonna do no-one sees nor understands And tomorrow takes the life we lived away What are we gonna do What are we gonna do And tomorrow takes the life we lived away What are we gonna do Politicians eat the cream What are we gonna do today What are we gonna do now they’re living in their dreams And tomorrow takes the life we lived away What are we gonna do The doors on us are shut What are we gonna do today What are we gonna do now every line is cut And tomorrow takes the life we lived away What are we gonna do What are we gonna do And tomorrow takes the life we lived away
8.
A TENNER AND A TURKEY It’s jingle bells and cockle shells Hanging on the tree Christmas comes from Russia with love And friends from Germany The North East beer is still the best And the sherry’s sweet from Spain And we all live on Quality Street And snap’s me favourite game There’s holly up and mistletoe Waiting for a kiss The bashful lads are hanging back ‘Cos the lipstick lasses are laughing in the corner Toys from France for the boys and girls Giving up some joy The silver bells are ringing out To make some Christmas noise Angels come from every realm Glory shines around From every face of every friend That keeps us up from falling down A tenner and a turkey doesn’t go far But we’ll all make a wish And come New Year we’ll start again With pate on a silver dish and champagne New Year’s Eve and us on film Stephan got a shock Everybody going into everybody’s house Then everybody coming back We drank to his health and his health again Doors all open wide Trays and trays of sandwiches and cakes From Myrtle with her New Year smile So it’s jingle bells and cockle shells Kindness is for free Christmas comes but once a year And that’s enough for me We all go daft in wor paper hats And there’s the victory V The men do the dishes ‘cos the food was so delicious And the lads are red with bliss ‘cos the lasses got a kiss So have another drink on me
9.
LAST PAYING DAY There’s a place inside where the mists roll down where wrong isn’t right and a smile’s not a frown it’s broken up and it’s all in bits where the square hole isn’t where the round bit fits And I’ve never been a one who doesn’t work hard I’ve never been one to take it that far But to do this to an innocent mind is a shock to the system and a blast to the blind anything can happen if this is true nothing’s gonna save us if this falls through And I’ve never been a one not to work all day I’ve never been one to turn away But if it’s all they can offer, if it’s all they can do I’ve seen it all, I’ve seen it through all these men sitting in this room it cuts like a knife through the morning gloom There’s a place inside where the whistle blows I get up in the morning ‘cos the cock still crows I see to me pigeons and I see to the dog but the kids are gone and the fishing rod And I’ve never been a one for idle hands I’ve never lived off of any other man but if this is the deal, if this is the way then I’ve seen my last paying day There’s a place inside where everybody goes where nobody cries, but they all know what it is to be bullied, to be driven apart it’s a place they used to call your heart And I’ve never been a one not to give a hand I’ve never been one not to understand But we’re all sitting here black and blue without any choice of what to do they hold up their guns and we reach for the sky everybody knows it’s do or die And I’ve never been a one not to keep my word I’ve never been one to make myself heard but if this is the deal, if this is the way then I’ve seen my last paying day but if this is the deal, if this is the way then I’ve seen my last paying day
10.
DON'T GIVE UP ON ME / BE GOOD TO EACH OTHER Just like sisters and brothers We fought for each other Mothers and fathers and lovers the same And who could have told us The way the wheels turn Broken forever with memories to burn Broken forever with memories to burn Don’t give up on me I’ve walked along the street with them behind me I know that you can see We’re maybe not that smart but we are kindly Tell them what we’ve all been through Tell them that wor sky is never blue Don’t give up on me Cos you have eyes to see Don’t give up on us They block the way and break the ever-lasting trust They’ve spread us far and wide So no-one hears the cry Or has a laugh or sees a smile Tell them all that we’re still living Tell them of the Christmas giving in ‘84 Don’t give up on us Don’t forget the war Don’t give up on me You have to hold your ground and stand up counted And when the hunger bites It’s then you have to fight and you’ll get clouted Tell them never mind the pain Tell them every day for us it rains Don’t give up on me It’s all that I can be Don’t give up on us The bobbies on the beat will never be a friend It’s just below the surface The animal that hurt us, it’s all just pretend The money in their pockets The doors are shut and locked They’ve thrown away the key Don’t give up on us Don’t give up on me Don’t give up on me Sometimes I hold my head into my hands We all need a friend There were times I couldn’t see an end Tell them we were not alone Tell them every hunter has a home Don’t give up on me Nothing comes for free Don’t give up on us Don’t give up on me Be good to each other All sisters and brothers Wipe away tears from the faces you love And keep yourselves going In the cruel wind that’s blowing I think we have suffered enough Yes, I think we have suffered enough

about

After 30 years, the events of 1984/5 are now a matter of history, I suppose, but history is a funny thing, so much of it comes from accounts written and massaged by the hierarchy of the day, filtered and changed to suit their agenda. This makes history as written and remembered by the ordinary people through songs, poems, stories and dances a vital resource.

These songs and the photographs that accompany them tell a little bit about happenings during those years in the coalfields of Britain, seen from the point of view of the working people of Easington in Co Durham, They are written and performed in the hope that these events, what led up to them and what resulted from them won’t be forgotten, for the echoes still sound very loudly in the present day.

This is the story of a Prime Minister and her government who planned and plotted against one of the main industries in our country for a period of at least 5 years. The attack was mounted against what she called ‘the enemy within’ - the working people of Britain and the union that legally represented them - not for economic or social reasons, but in order to get rid of a large body of strong opposition to their future policy plans.

credits

released August 23, 2014

Brenda Heslop - Vocals, guitar
Jill Heslop - Vocals, piano, accordion
Geoff Heslop - Vocals, instruments

with
Anna Heslop - Vocals on ‘Dad and Me’ and ‘Be Good To Each Other’
Ian ‘Walter’ Fairbairn - Electric and acoustic guitar, mandolin
Stu Luckley - Acoustic Bass
Added Vocals by ‘The No Redemption Singers’ - Ingrid Temple,
Di Henderson and Ragged Glory (George Archibald, Charlie Milne, May and Jim Weatherston)

Spoken words by Di Henderson and Jez Lowe
Sound Pieces by Martin Heslop
All Songs by Brenda Heslop and published by Ribbon Road Music
All Rights Reserved
All photos copyright Keith Pattison, used with the kind permission
Arranged and Produced by Geoff Heslop
Recorded at Shipyard Studios, Northumberland
Ingrid’s vocals recorded by Barrie Temple at Shoebox Studios,
Newcastle
Mastered by Steve Cunningham at Boomchang Records, Newcastle
Spoken words based on interviews recorded by David Peace
Sleeve Design by Geoff Heslop

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Ribbon Road UK

Ribbon Road are:

Brenda Heslop
Geoff Heslop

For over 30 years, Brenda Heslop has been one of the undiscovered talents of songwriting. Only now is she starting to get the attention she has so long deserved, with singers taking up her lovely songs and spreading the word.
Geoff and Brenda now release material under the name Frank and Rose and have a separate Bandcamp page
... more

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