We Work The Black Seam re-write ?

Subject: We Work The Black Seam re-write ?
From: GUEST,Wellsy
Date: 10 Nov 20 - 10:44 PM

The above Sting song was unforgettably covered by Swan Arcade, and my current vocal trio wants to reprise it.

But it's out-of-date, and we'd like to re-write it for the modern age, where the issue is not so much coal vs nuclear, as coal vs renewables. This is particularly the case in our country [ Australia], where the debate is a national issue. And where climate change annihilation by wildfires has begun.

We've done a partial re-write, but I'm wondering if anybody else has adapted the song to the changed energy landscape.

Thanks

Subject: ADD: We Work The Black Seam (Gordon Sumner)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Nov 20 - 11:20 PM

For the record, here's the original. It would be nice to see your version, Wellsy.

WE WORK THE BLACK SEAM
(Gordon Sumner - Sting)

This place has changed for good
Your economic theory said it would
It's hard for us to understand
We can't give up our jobs the way we should
Our blood has stained the coal
We tunneled deep inside the nation's soul
We matter more than pounds and pence
Your economic theory makes no sense

One day in a nuclear age
They may understand our rage
They build machines that they can't control
And bury the waste in a great big hole
Power was to become cheap and clean
Grimy faces were never seen
Deadly for twelve thousand years is carbon fourteen
We work the black seam together
We work the black seam together

The seam lies underground
Three million years of pressure packed it down
We walk through ancient forest lands
And light a thousand cities with our hands
Your dark satanic mills
Have made redundant all our mining skills
You can't exchange a six inch band
For all the poisoned streams in Cumberland
Your economic theory makes no sense

One day in a nuclear age
They may understand our rage
They build machines that they can't control
And bury the waste in a great big hole
Power was to become cheap and clean
Grimy faces were never seen
Deadly for twelve thousand years is carbon fourteen
We work the black seam together
We work the black seam together

And should the children weep
The turning world will sing their souls to sleep
When you have sunk without a trace
The universe will suck me into place

One day in a nuclear age
They may understand our rage
They build machines that they can't control
And bury the waste in a great big hole
Power was to become cheap and clean
Grimy faces were never seen
But deadly for twelve thousand years is carbon fourteen
We work the black seam together
We work the black seam together


1985 Sting recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmC61VHVZAM

Recording by Swan Arcade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcYZImD0ETI

Battlefield Band recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOfoVphAUTk

Subject: RE: We Work The Black Seam re-write ?
From: Klavdivs
Date: 11 Nov 20 - 01:05 AM

Thanks Joe. The re-write is taking shape.

We're not as good lyricists as Sting, but if we come up with something worthy, I'll post it.

It has a very relevant theme [ the demise of coal]. Just needs to be tweaked for the climate change crisis, rather than the nuclear threat.

Subject: RE: We Work The Black Seam re-write ?
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 11 Nov 20 - 03:53 AM

For acccuracy's sake it is better to have "three hundred million years have packed it down" , and "says. Carbon 14"

Robin

Subject: RE: We Work The Black Seam re-write ?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Nov 20 - 11:38 AM

Yeah, Robin, that would be scientifically accurate, but it doesn't scan... (Grin)

I'll stand by the accuracy of my transcription above.

Subject: RE: We Work The Black Seam re-write ?
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 12 Nov 20 - 05:21 AM

I can get it to scan OK.

Swan arcade only sang half of the last verse. The full verse is:

Our conscious minds run deep.
You cling on to your mountain while you sleep.
This way of life is part of me,
There is no price so only let me be.
And should our children weep
This turning world will spin their souls to sleep.
When you're sunk without a trace
The universe will suck me into place.


Robin

Subject: RE: We Work The Black Seam re-write ?
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 12 Nov 20 - 05:36 AM

An even more challenging song to alter would be "History and Prophecy", a real earworm with an instrumental section after each verse.

HISTORY AND PROPHECY.

They're coming down to Williamstown
With their faces full of worry
For so we're told they want miners bold
And they want them in a hurry.
They want coal again and they want men
To go down the hole and cut it,
But the miners' lads have asked their dads
And they've told them where they can put it.

Our government friends are at their wits ends.
For fuel they're in trouble,
For they've sunk their brass in North Sea gas
And that was a North Sea bubble.
The lands of oil are on the boil
And the tankers, they have stopped sailing,
And the stupid swines who closed the mines
Are wringing their hands and wailing.

But from underground there comes no sound,
In seams that have been forgotten,
And the pithead gear stands gaunt and drear
Over towns that were left to go rotten,
And there's many a louse in Tolgarth house
Who's wishing that he had heeded
All the men who said, "Before you're dead
Those pits are going to be needed".

But they've treated with scorn the best men born,
No land ever bred men finer.
So serve them right, in their sorry plight,
For doing the dirt on the miner.

Recorded from Mick Tems and Pat Smith.

Robin