Look Who it Was Random video

5-string Banjo: Peterloo Massacre (Including lyrics and chords)

846 views · Published 9 May 2016 · 4:25 · Indexed 20 September 2026

Channel: threelegsoman · 2016 · Education

Watch on YouTube

This one comes as a request from Lee Moran.
I uploaded another song about this sad historical event some time ago. It was called The Meeting at Peterloo. https://youtu.be/vHclxl1CNVA
Information about the massacre can be found in Wikipedia at the following address:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peterloo_Massacre
This song was written by Harvey Kershaw and my interpretation is based on the singing of The Oldham Tinkers.
The chords shown in the annotations are for guitar accompaniment to my banjo playing.

Peterloo Massacre
Harvey Kershaw

D                  A           D              G       D          A     D  
On Peter's field in Manchester in year 1-8-1-9
                         A          D        G           D            A            D 
When cotton folk of Lancashire in protest did combine
D       G                                      D                                                                                    A
Corn Laws had brought the crippling tax The price of food near broke folks backs
-       D      A              D                     G                D             A            D     
And set alight the smouldering flax and it bristled many a spine

Chorus:
D  G                                     D                                                                 A
Salute once more these men of yore who were to conscience true
         D                A                D              G             D             A       D     
And gave their blood for common good on fields at Peterloo

Sixteenth day of August brought the sound of marching feet
When workers fifty thousand strong on Peter's field did meet
In Mount Street from an upstairs room, the magistrates looked down with gloom
And scoffed this rabble o’ the loom – vengeance, they vow, 'tis sweet

Then Riot Act were garbled out at Parson Hay’s command
For this here Rochdale vicar made with richest living in land
But folk at meeting never knew 'bout Riot Act till bugles blew
And mounted Redcoats come in view, their sabres in their hands

These soldiers mowed folk down like flies, their sabres dripped with blood
They spared no man nor woman's cry, but pierced them where they stood
Many dead that day were named and hundreds more were ripped and lamed
While tyrants watching unashamed said, “It’d do them good!”

For many a year folks struggled on till 1832
Reform Act come, corn laws were done and food was cheaper too
John Bright and Cobden paved the way and now where Peter's field once lay
Free Trade Hall it stands today on field at Peterloo

More from this channel