The Cage by Keith Roberts 1967

Monday morning shift number one
Wish that the day's work was over and done
Climb in the cage boys let her roll
We're the warriors who fight for the coal

Ch
And the wheels on the headgear spin around
The cage like a stone is dropping down
Feel the blood in your ears pound
Down Down in the ground

First stop pit bottom fall like a stone
Half way down lads soon be done
There's a hell of a draught, a howling gale
As the cage whistles downwards a-telling its tale

Glaring lights, dusty floor
Meet us there outside the cage door
Crawl to the face lads sharing a joke
In a couple of hours you would die for a smoke

Sweat run freely matted hair
Glistening bodies black and bare
It's damned hard work but what do you say
Roll on Friday when we draw our pay!

Taken from "Come all ye bold miners" compiled by A.L. Lloyd revised edition 1978.
Also "The Road to Wigan Pier (and back)" by Keith Roberts c1968

Cheers
Markthe