Lyr Req: Strike (Ry Cooder)

Subject: 'Strike!' lyrics needed
From: GUEST,Dotty
Date: 19 Jan 08 - 07:55 PM

The lyrics to Ry Cooder's "Strike!" from his "My Name Is Buddy" CD is not on the web yet. Does anyone know the lyrics and if so, could they post them here? Thanks.

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: STRIKE! (Ry Cooder)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 08:26 AM

Found here.

STRIKE!
Ry Cooder

(D) - (G) - (A)

(D) I got off the train one evening in a (G) little mining (D) town
I started walking up the main street when the (E) sun was going (A) down

When I (D) heard some voices singing, so I (G) went to see what (D) for
Might just be a birthday party, might be room for (A) just one (D) more

It was miners and their families, they had left the mine that day
Walked out for safe conditions, on strike for decent pay

And they sang about their struggle, and their spirit never failed
Keep your hand upon the dollar and your eye upon the scale

Union (G) miners stand to(D)gether, heed no (A) operator's (D) tale
Keep your (D) hand upon the (G) dollar and your (D) eye u(A)pon the (D) scale

All at once police came running, they came running everywhere
They broke up that miners' meeting, carried everyone to jail

But the miners kept on singing and they sang the whole night through
When the sun rose in the morning I had learned that miners' song

The judge he asked to police captain, "What's that red cat doing here?"
"Get all the reds off the streets, sir, was your orders loud and clear."

They turned me out of the jailhouse back door, but I wouldn't leave my miner friends,
I jumped back to the jailhouse window and I sang that miners' song again.

Subject: RE: 'Strike!' lyrics needed (Ry Cooder?)
From: GUEST,Peace
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 10:34 AM

Jim, you amaze me.

Subject: RE: 'Strike!' lyrics needed (Ry Cooder?)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 10:51 AM

Want to know how I did it? I went to Allmusic.com and found a sound sample, listened to it, then took a phrase I had heard and Googled it. It was really quite simple and quick. It's a technique I often use.

Subject: RE: 'Strike!' lyrics needed (Ry Cooder?)
From: Chris in Portland
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 01:20 PM

The song is taken from the Welsh/American song, Miner's LIfe - that in the American version uses the Vacant Chair/Life is Like a Mountain Railway melody and in the Welsh version uses the Calon Lan melody - or something like that. Lots of threads on this.
I'm doing 4 songs for the Welsh St. David's Day here in Portland. For one, I have to honor South Wales by doing a miner's song. I did Miner's Life last year, and was considering Maerdy this year. Maybe Ry's "lite" version would work better. It'a a wee bit hard to get the folks into the Protest mode right after a big lunch!
Chris

Subject: RE: 'Strike!' lyrics needed (Ry Cooder?)
From: GUEST,Dotty
Date: 22 Jan 08 - 03:18 AM

Thanks one and all. Well done. I'll sing it at the May day rally here in Melb. (Aust.)