Story Behind The Song
Born in Paterson, New Jersey, Franco Z grew up in a family that owned and worked in a silk dyeing mill. This lyric originally appeared in the novel MILL SONG (Henry Holt, 1985), by William Harry Harding.
Song Description
A blues about the inequality of life in Paterson, New Jersey, known as "Silk City" during the early part of the 20th Century, when silk dyeing mills lined the Passaic River.
| Song Length |
4:43 |
Genre |
Blues - General, Blues - Traditional |
| Tempo |
Medium Slow (91 - 110) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Troubled, Outraged |
Subject |
Liberal, Progressive, Civil Rights |
| Similar Artists |
Leadbelly, B.B. King |
Language |
English |
| Era |
1930 - 1939 |
| |
Lyrics
THEY GOT A DOWNTOWN, AIN'T GOT NO UPTOWN
THEY GOT JAILS FOR THE UNION JOES
THEY GOT STRIKE BREAKERS, HEAD BREAKERS
EVERY KIND OF HURT MAKER
SCARE YOU RIGHT OUT OF YOUR CLOTHES
LIFE HERE MEANS PAYING YOUR DUES
IS HOW YOU GET THE SILK CITY BLUES.
GOT MILES OF FREIGHT TRACKS,
WHOLE BLOCKS OF SMOKE STACKS
THEY GOT MILLS WORKING ALL DAY LONG
THEY PAY TWO DOLLAR, EACH DYER,
TWENTY CASH TO BOSS LIAR
NOBODY CALLING THAT WRONG.
LIFE HERE A BATCH OF BAD NEWS
IS HOW YOU GET THE SILK CITY BLUES
NEW YORK 'ROUND THE CORNER, SPIT AND YOU BE THERE
TRAIN LEAVING, I AIN'T ON IT
ONLY JOB I KNOW IS HERE -- WHERE
THEY GOT THE GREAT FALLS, THEY GOT THEIR CITY HALL
THEY GOT PARKS 'LONG THE RIVER RUN
THEY GOT WHITE FOLK AND BLACK FOLK
LAWS FOR BOTH, IT'S SOME JOKE
YOU LEARN TO LAUGH ON THE RUN
BEST CHECK THE SOLES OF YOUR SHOES
IS HOW YOU GET THE SILK CITY BLUES.