“Georgia Cotton Mill Woman” Sheet Music (pdf).
“Georgia Cotton Mill Woman” Karaoke (midi with lyrics).
Lyrics: Anne Romaine.
Tune: Anne Romaine.
She was born a Georgia woman in a tiny river town,
Where the cotton mill whistle was her first worried sound.
At an age barely seven, she had to stand,
Working machin’ry just like a grown man.
Others around her in sorrow and despair,
They were working like dogs for that rich man up there.
And the cruel sounds of lynch mobs that the bosses maintained,
They kept workers sep’rate: broken links on a chain.
There are many fallen soldiers that life’s journey brings,
Deceived by the greed of some other man’s dream.
There are many fallen soldiers so hungry and so tired.
Their cries pierce the darkness like Death’s angel choir.
[Spoken] She decided there must be some other way. She went on down to the cotton mill that day.
She said, “Listen, workers, I’m a worker like you. And there’s way too much power in the hands of the few!
The cotton mill owner, let him weave and spin ’cause we’re gonna be out on that picket line …
… ’til the day that we win!”
They carried her into Atlanta to the Big Rock County Jail.
Told her she’s gonna be electrocuted and sent down into Hell.
[Sung] There are many fallen soldiers that life’s journey brings,
Deceived by the greed of some other man’s dream.
But that cotton mill woman, she said the fight had begun:
There’d be no more fallen soldiers when the workers’ world is won!