Lyr Add: song for Cape Breton mine strike

Subject: Lyrics: song for Cape Breton mine strike
From: Len Wallace
Date: 19 Jan 00 - 02:02 AM

In 1992, I was watching TV reports concerning the Westray Mine disaster. My anger over the event was written down in a song called "Men of the Midnight Shift" which became the title song of my third recording (Midnight Shift, 1994).

When I learned about the recent strike at the Prince Mine miners (members of District 26, UMWA), I sat down to write a song for them.

I made contact with the Cape Breton District Labour Council and they asked me to fax them the words. I did. A few hours later, I got a call from the strike lines. Two of the miners wanted to thank me, asked me for the tune.

I told them the song was hurriedly put together, but they assured me that it made the point.

The strikers went back to work, but their struggle still goes on. this song is for them. But it needs a title. Any takers?

Chorus:
Four miles down where the sun don't shine
There's ten brave miners hunkered in a mine
Fighting off the hunger, fighting 'gainst time,
Fighting for the men above walking the line.

A mean wind blows these January days
'Cause the Prince Mine's closing if the boss gets his way.
It's whipping on the pickets, the men of the mine.
It's a hard whipping wind for families on the line.

There's no place to go if they shut the place down.
There's no work above, no job to be found.
The only chance goin' is the heart of the coal.
Either hell in the mine or hell on the dole.

Chorus:
But four miles down where the sun don't shine
There's ten lone miners hunkered in a mine
Fighting off the hunger, fighting 'gainst time,
Fighting for the men above walking the line.

The suits in the office spend all their days
Counting up the dollars from the profits they made
off the backs of the pit men down in the hole
slaving all their days just digging the coal.

Chorus:
But four miles down where the sun don't shine
There's ten lone miners hunkered in a mine
Fighting off the hunger, fighting 'gainst time,
Fighting for the men above walking the line.

Now, they're fighting for a pension, fighting for a wage.
Everyday it's a struggle just to fight down your rage
fighting 'gainst the odds, fighting off the lies,
fighting for a future and fighting for their lives.

Now, there's 10 brave men hunkered in a mine
Fighting for the jobs for the strikers on the line.
They're down in the deeps for the ones they love.
For their brothers, for themselves and their families up above.

Len Wallace

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song for Cape Breton mine strike
From:
Date: 19 Jan 00 - 10:56 AM

I think your first line actually has it. A Mean Wind Blows
Len, what's the tune? I'd like to re-post the words on the CB-MUSIC list if you don't mind? After you settle on the title.

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song for Cape Breton mine strike
From: MMario
Date: 19 Jan 00 - 10:59 AM

"A Mean Wind Blows" does sound good, but another to consider would be "Four Miles Down"

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song for Cape Breton mine strike
From: Peg
Date: 19 Jan 00 - 11:00 AM

great song; i would love to hear it some day.

I like George's suggestion. I would also suggest Men of the Mine...

BTW have you seen Margaret's Museum? Great movie about mining in Nova Scotia...

peg

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song for Cape Breton mine strike
From: northfolk/al cholger
Date: 19 Jan 00 - 02:40 PM

Len, At the risk of breeding cynicism, I like the title "No Place to Go", from the line ...there's no place to go if they shut the place down.... There are places to go...and now is the time to go there...see you in the bars and the barricades

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song for Cape Breton mine strike
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 19 Jan 00 - 03:12 PM

Len?!?! Len who?? Oh... that sweaty guy... ya, he's pretty good...

Now you know I'm gonna be asking to hear this one mate!

Gonna have to side with the "4 Miles Down" thing though... cause it's easy to remember... And we both know who thick audiences can be sometimes eh!

Catch Ya Later

You gonna be at Burns Night at the Kildare??

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song for Cape Breton mine strike
From:
Date: 19 Jan 00 - 09:31 PM

You know.... a modified rhythm from Battle of New Orleans almost works for the song.

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song for Cape Breton mine strike
From: GUEST,Len Wallace
Date: 20 Jan 00 - 04:05 AM

Thanks everyone. Great suggestions and now I'm sorry I asked! This one I will have to think about. I like all the suggestions.

As for the tune, I thought I had one down, but going off to a gig tonight, it started to rework itself. As soon as I have it down, I will let you know.

And thank you Clinton for keeping up the legend about how much I can actually sweat when I perform!

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song for Cape Breton mine strike
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 20 Jan 00 - 01:15 PM

hehehehehehehehehehehehehehe

Gald to be of service, Len

;-)

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song for Cape Breton mine strike
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Nov 07 - 06:51 PM

Does anybody know whether Len Wallace's song was ever recorded, and if so, what title he settled on?

Len himself hasn't posted here, under the member name "Len Wallace", since January, 2000, but he (or someone) has posted as "GUEST,Len Wallace" as recently as September, 2005.

Subject: RE: Lyrics: song for Cape Breton mine strike
From: oldhippie
Date: 14 Nov 07 - 07:29 AM

"Ten Brave Miners" or "Ten Lone Miners" would also be a good choice for a title.