Paul - Schooldays Over, Ewan MacColl.

At last I've got round to writing it down. This is the version we sing, though it's probably part of the way into the folk process!

Schooldays over, come on then John
Time you were getting your pitboots on
On with your sack and moleskin trousers
Time you were on your way
Time you were learning a pitman's job
And earning a pitman's pay

Come on then Jim, it's time to go
Time you were working down below
Time you were handling a pick and shovel
You start at the pit today
Time you were learning a collier's job
And earning a collier's pay

Come on then Dai, it's nearly light
Time you were cutting the anthracite
The morning mist is in the valley
It's time you were on your way
Time you were learning a miner's job
And earning a miner's pay

If you don't know Britain, the verses use words from different mining communities around the UK.

In the recession of the early '90s and while pits were being closed everywhere, we sang an extra verse:

Schooldays over, come on then Rob
Time you were getting a steady job
The dole queue's stretching around the corner
Time you were on your way
Time you were learning some kind of job
And earning some sort of pay