What Folksongs Tell Us About Work in Wisconsin presented by Jim Leary
Inspired by His Upbringing in Rice Lake, Jim Leary Preserves Wisconsin Folklore One Story at a Time
People have often relied on songs to express their experiences as workers and human beings. Rural and urban, blue collar and white collar, of indigenous and immigrant heritage, Wisconsin’s culturally and linguistically diverse peoples have sung songs while they work. What can we learn about class, culture, and work from these songs? This talk includes historic and contemporary field and studio recordings of Irish and French Canadian lumberjacks, Finnish and Croatian miners, Potawatomi and Norwegian ironworkers, Italian and Mexican farmhands, and Polish and Hmong factory workers to illustrate continuity, change, and commonality in the folksongs of Wisconsin’s workers.
Jim Leary is a native of Rice Lake who has been nominated for a Grammy for his exploration of the music and cultures of the state. Jim says, “These days my heart is in writing and ethnography, but I will always be a laborer.” As part of our ShopTalk, Jim brings some of his stories and music to audiences all over the state in a presentation called “What Folksongs Tell Us About Work in Wisconsin.”
We are proud to have partnered with Love Wisconsin to bring you a story told by Jim. Love Wisconsin shares positive, inspiring stories of everyday Wisconsinites on Facebook. Together we use online tools to get to know the many faces and voices and perspectives that make up our state.