The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #171651 Message #4152113
Posted By: Monologue John
06-Sep-22 - 05:14 AM
Thread Name: Mining songs NOT about coal?
Subject: RE: Mining songs NOT about coal?
Mining is the only industry from which the absentee figures are published regularly
Being usually preoccupied with telling the public of the fabulous wages miners
are supposed to earn not much interest is shown in the conditions
under which they are actually earned , but occasionaly the press finds it can enhance it circulation by printing disaster news and making a furtune out of misfortune
The Accident at Bradford Colliery Tuesday February 28th 1956 Song Written by Peter Ivan Fryman
As I made my way down the street to the colliery
As I to my work was making my way
I heard the bad news and I heard the men talking
Young Anthony Riley has worked his last day
Ole Enlyne Williams lies dead in the fan house
The roof has caved in and the sides did give way
It's in the newspapers splashed over the headlines
What a big coup the news houds will pocket this day
Willing hands to the rescue of our poor stricken comrades
To lift the big rocks and discover their fate
When comes the next pay day ther'll be a big collection
Not a newspaper owner will be there to donate
It's in the newspapers splashed over the headlines
A capital story upon the front page
Blood on the girders in Old Parker Fan house
While weeping dependants go with the cortege
When the coal merchant calls and you pay your good money
Count well the bags as he lays them aside
You'll be counting the cuts and the knocks and the bruises
- You'll be counting the lives of the men who have died