Byker Hill facts for kids
"Byker Hill" is a traditional English folk song. It tells the story of coal miners. These brave workers dug for coal deep underground. The song is very old and has been sung by many different artists.
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Byker Hill: A Song About Coal Miners
"Byker Hill" is a type of music called a folk song. Folk songs are traditional songs. They often tell stories about everyday life. This song is about coal miners. Coal miners worked hard to dig coal. Coal was a very important fuel. The song shares their experiences and their tough lives.
Where is Byker Hill?
Byker Hill is a real place. It is in the east end of Newcastle upon Tyne. Newcastle is a city in England. Another place mentioned in the song is Walker Shore. Walker is also near Newcastle. These places were important for coal mining. The song's words "Byker Hill and Walker Shore, Collier lads for ever more" show this connection. "Collier lads" is another name for coal miners.
The Song's History
The earliest versions of this song had a different name. They were called "Walker Pits." "Pits" refers to coal mines. One of the first times it was written down was in a book. This book was called "Rhymes of Northern Bards." It was published in 1812. The song was number 36 in that book. Later, a famous folk music collector named A.L. Lloyd included it. He also used the older title, "Walker Pits."
Who Has Sung "Byker Hill"?
Many musicians have sung "Byker Hill." They have helped keep this old song alive. Each artist often puts their own spin on the tune. This shows how folk songs can change over time. Here are some of the artists who have performed it:
- Martin Carthy on his 1967 album "Byker Hill"
- Dave Swarbrick on his 1976 album "Swarbrick"
- The Young Tradition on their self-titled album
- Bellowhead on their album "Broadside"
- Brian Johnson on his 2002 album "From Tyne to Tweed - The Northumbria Anthology"
