Music While You Work
"they hear us all singing cheerfully at our work.
You know the kind of song — 'My gal's a Yorkshire
gal'…with its kind words to the 'factory lass.'" Madge
Munro, Cocoa Works Magazine, Christmas 1932
In
a 1932 radio broadcast, Madge Munro remembered 500 women
singing in unison in her room. Singing was seen as a sign
of a happy workforce and provided a rhythm to work by.
For many singing was “part of liking it”,
something which helped them enjoy their work. Allowing
workers to sing was also part of Rowntrees’ self-image
as a good firm.
During World War II ‘Music While You Work’
— playing records over speakers in the workrooms
— was introduced. In the 1940s favourite songs
included ‘Pal of my Cradle Days’ and ‘My
Gal’s a Yorkshire Gal’ and in the 60's popular
music like Cliff Richard and The Beatles was preferred.
In wartime music was seen as a way of raising morale
but it was later stopped by some Overlookers,
who felt it was distracting. For the workers, however,
popular music at work provided an opportunity to wave
at sweethearts.
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