"Steam an Temper" genre: Folk
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	Winner of Poynton Folk Festival Songwriting Competition - 31.3.02. Comments: Mike Silver - 31.3.02 "I really like that song". Jim Couza - 5.4.02 "What a wonderful song". A celebration of mothers of large families, who 'just got on with it' feeding,rearing clothing and looking after their own families - and any other children who needed it. They're a breed which is rapidly dying out.
	CD: Twentieth Century   Label: Manatee Press Credits: Charlotte Peters Rock
	Story Behind the Song This song was written to recognise those women who always did their best for their families, no matter how large, and weren't above taking in extra children and rearing them as well. These women rarely strayed far from their homes. They were too busy. They served all their lives, (which were often cut short by too much child-bearing and over-work), and kept nothing back. They are largely gone now, to be replaced by 'women with choice'. In their time they were the backbone of Britain. Lyrics Mi Mam wur a wumman a steam an temper fillin the copper up late Sundee naiht Mi Mam wur a wumman a steam an temper ponchin the weshin frum very fust laiht On Mundee wi went te school steamy an early an Mam stopped er ponchin fur cuttin the bread Wi each ad a piace wi sum drippin spread furly te kip uz all gooin te kip uz all fed An nobody knows oo shi wur Inside er ead oo shi wur Nobody knows oo shi wur The jus saw a wumman an nobody knows An Tuesdee wur inin the kitchen still streamin Wi Mam pullin ot irons owt a the fiear Shi flattened the cloes an shi ung um up steamin An pulled up the cloes-maiden igher an igher An ah wur the fourteenth of ahr Mam’s own children Wid three cousins still livin under ahr ruff Coz Mam’s sister Lizzie ad died wi the last un So Mam tuk em in coz the’d suffered enuf ch An wimmin all roun us did weshin on Mundee An inin on Tuesdee te get through the wik An Wensdee wur bakin te kip uz til Satdee Uz kids ad sum ot an got told off fur cheek Mi Mam wur a wumman oo noo ow te fettle Shi knitted an mended an kep uz all fed Shi black-leaded range then shi’d boil up the kettle Tew eaze er poor feet wi a soak befower bed ch Shi fell down an died wun day ovver the copper But not befower weshin wur ung on the breeze Shi’d finished er wuk an shi’d fettled dad’s supper Shi died cleanin copper Shi died on er knees ch An now the luk back an the say wi ad nuthin Wi all ad ahr games in the strits roun abowt Wi mait a bin poor but wi allus ad sumthin Wi even ad playmates wiout gooin owt Mi Mam wur the wumman oo med it all appen Mi Mam wur the wun oo showed uz ow te live She soon lost er temper - but then shi sed ‘appen If a can say sorry then tha can forgiv’ ch (tune) by Charlotte Peters Rock

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