Silk City Blues

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.

PERFECT BLUES TUNE!--i mean perfect all the way around!-thanxs--joe.----------really great one to do live!

Lyrics William Harry Harding Music William Harry Harding
Producer Franco Z Publisher Garden Oak Press
Performance Franco Z -- vocal and tenor sax

Other Songs By Franco Z -- Z-BOP!

Song
Actions
A Long Way From Home
Country - General
Plays: 86
Z-BOP! -- Do I Even Know You?
Latin - Jazz
Plays: 92
Franco Z and Z-BOP! -- Silk City Blues
Blues - Traditional
Plays: 65
Tomorrow, I'll Forget You
Jazz - Standards
Plays: 56
There's A Someone For Everyone (Don Wiseman vocal)
Pop - Standards
Plays: 59
Love You Strong -- Franco Z vocal, Jacob Sundstrom guitar solo
Blues - Traditional
Plays: 58
Lullaby of Martinis
Jazz - Lounge
Plays: 55
Show Up and Shine (Laura Jane vocal)
Pop - Classic
Plays: 58
I'm Still in Love with You (Franco Z vocal, fluglehorn solo)
Pop - Standards
Plays: 94
I Had The Night Of My Life (Franco Z vocal, trumpet solo)
Pop - Standards
Plays: 107
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