Each group would sing its song.
The boss was happy if we sang and prayed.
We were forbidden to speak, however.
If you spoke, you would get distracted and be punished with a penalty.
lavoratori_canti_preghiere-subfrase
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Customs and regulations on singing in the mill
There were varying rules regarding songs and prayers in the mills: in some mills, singing was allowed and in others, it wasn't. Sometimes the managers preferred singing to conversations between the workers, as it didn't distract them from their work.
Credits: “Una lira al giorno per sedici ore di lavoro”, intervista a Caterina Chiapasco in Nuto Revelli, L’anello forte, Einaudi, Torino, 1985.