This is a little piece of Sheffield history. Back in the mid to late 19th century, when Sheffield was producing the lion's share of the world's steel there was money to be made and power to be had. Unions were illegal but there were unions anyway, and if you were in the steel work industry then you were in the union, whether you wanted to be or not. And if you didn't pay your fees, you would attract the attentions of Mary Anne.
Jeremiah Clarke was shot in the back
There’s dynamite dropping down chimney stacks
A horse lies dying in Whirlow Field
Spoonfulls of shadows with every meal
The coppers couldn’t give
A good god-damn
Everybody knows it was Mary Anne
Bodies coming down the River Don
Everybody acts like there’s nothing going on
A man was stabbed in his eye-ball
There’s ears in the cracks of every wall
The coppers couldn’t give
A good god-damn
Everybody knows it was Mary Anne
Burning houses, poison beer
The shadows don’t have no bodies round here
See that letter come through your door?
Go while you can, don’t come back no more
The coppers couldn’t give
A good god-damn
Everybody knows it was Mary Anne
@bethdesombre Mar 2022
Oh my -- this song really drives right in! The instrumentation is perfect here for the mood. And "Spoonfulls of shadows with every meal" is such a great image/phrase. I love the lead up to the last line of the verse, which is surprising the first time around, and the deepens as the song goes on. What a compelling and mysterious song!
@crutherford Feb 2022
dear richard masters.
you are a chameleon.
this is a wonderful thing.
i love this swamp fuzz historical haunt.
mary anne is my kinda boogie person.
these are my fav lines in this wonder
Spoonfulls of shadows with every meal..
There’s ears in the cracks of every wall...
Burning houses, poison beer
The shadows don’t have no bodies round here
Fantastic job!
Bravo!