Cotton Mill Girl: A Tribute to Hedy West

A video composition featuring Hedy West performing "Cotton Mill Girl" on Pete Seeger's Rainbow Quest with historical photographs.
Correction: Though Hedy West Is often credited with writing and holds a copyright for "Cotton Mill Girl," it appears that there is an older version of the song written by Lester Smallwood, which was pointed out below by Louie Hickman who grew up listening to Smallwood's version of the song with his grandmother.

[@markrush5013]

thank you. l was wondering where the vid of her went..l watched it over and over years ago.

[@persallnas1246]

Beautiful song and a beautiful montage, ty.

[@averillvision]

So glad you produced this little video. Nice to find a tribute to Hedy.

[@bruceperry5244]

Once I had a lady friend who was a cotton mill girl. She told me to always hang your horseshoes up right, or the luck might run out. Somebody around here's been hanging horseshoes upside down and I can hear that luck running out.But I hear all kinds of strange things lately.

[@miguelmarquez4192]

Years late, but she was probably of irish decent. Thats the common way for them. Hold luck like a cup!

[@notsure64]

excellent. I love Hedy West.

[@sphereatmo]

Thanks for sharing

[@dozertube1]

Great Music an a Good Video

[@jonmt12]

Wonderful. Thanks so much.

[@patrickblaine1524]

Jon Teitelbaum Thanks, Jon. Glad you liked it, it was fun to make.

[@genemynahan554]

This was from 1965 on Pete's "Rainbow Quest" show.

[@cheesenoodles8316]

They were hard times. I want a Barlow Knife.

[@patrickblaine1524]

You and me both!

[@notsure64]

Awesome!

[@ltodd79]

Someone please do the world a favor and post Hedy West's "Pretty Saro" to TH-cam. I've read that West's rendition is the best ever, but her recordings are so rare (all vinyl and she has now passed away) that it's impossible to find them.

[@patrickblaine1524]

Hi, L Todd,
Someone recently uploaded it: th-cam.com/video/ysFZ8rEnPVA/w-d-xo.html

[@ltodd79]

Patrick Blaine Thank you!

[@peterg9119]

The link from 2015 is no longer working. Here's another: th-cam.com/video/J2SZQP4M5XQ/w-d-xo.html Also, pretty much all of Hedy's albums have been re-released in the last few years on CD (from England). Easily found on Ebay, etc.

[@notsure64]

+1

[@sandramorey2529]

That's the history we don't learn in school. It may also become our future if we don't use our brains and get rid of the fascists. Hedy West was terrific.