If you're reading THE DARK PORTAL, you may have come across a mention of "The Souling Song." If you haven't got to that part yet, you soon will! We thought you might like to hear what it sounds like. All story ghosts aside, E and I both find this song incredibly haunting. Below the audio is an old Victorian photo of some of the kinds of real, historical poor children who might have had to sing for a few pennies to buy something to eat. In this case, these were coalmine child workers.
To learn more about how life was for them, click the picture. It will take you to an article from the UK Daily Mail, by Annabel Venning, which discusses a recent scholarly book entitled Childhood And Child Labour In The British Industrial Revolution, by Professor Jane Humphries. Unfortunately, if you think that child labor - virtually child slavery - is the relic of a bygone age, brace yourself and click this grim infographic from the US Dept of Labor, which we came across in our research. It shows the prevalence of child labor in poor countries today. Chilling. (Once you open it, it will enlarge if you click on it.)
3 Comments
thismoment
12/2/2013 09:03:47 am
listening to the song, made the song more powerful when i read the book.
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Brandy
5/5/2014 08:35:24 pm
I was wondering where I could download/buy your souling song... I have looked everywhere but I can only find the soul cake songs. I would love to be able to listen to this while reading "The Dark Portal"
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Gael
5/7/2014 10:49:38 am
Hi Brandy! Thanks for the question. We found that on iStockphoto.com as an audio file. It was actually quite expensive (I think over $50) - because of the licensing for public use, so it's different than buying a song on iTunes or something like that for your own personal enjoyment. But we wanted to be able to share it with our readers, cuz I agree, it's such a neat effect to be able to hear the actual song. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Come back anytime to listen to it as often as you want! The artist is called The Furnace Room. Hope that helps!
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