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01 Jul 99 - 06:07 PM (#91477) Subject: KEEP YOUR HAND UPON YOUR WAGES - info? From: Ian HP There is a wonderful union song called A Miners Life? Keep Your Hand Upon Your Wages? The first line is "A miner's life is like a sailor's" and the chorus goes "Union miners stand together, never heed the owner's tales, keep your hand upon your wages and your eye upon the scales." Does anyone know the proper title, author, background, words? |
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01 Jul 99 - 07:44 PM (#91513) Subject: RE: KEEP YOUR HAND UPON YOUR WAGES - info? From: Alice Ian, check out this thread: union miners alice |
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03 Dec 08 - 11:27 AM (#2506916) Subject: Lyr Req: Keep your hands on your wages From: Dennis the Elder I heard a song well sang, the other day. The chorus included, if I heard it correctly "keep your hands on your wages and your eyes upon the sail?" probably got this wrong. Can anyone help? Do you know it Ray, if you pick up on this thread? Dennis |
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03 Dec 08 - 11:38 AM (#2506926) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep your hands on your wages From: Steve Gardham eyes upon the scales. Union Miners...must be in the DT somewhere. |
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03 Dec 08 - 11:41 AM (#2506930) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep your hands on your wages From: Malcolm Douglas http://www.mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=3984 'Miners Lifeguard' in the USA, 'Miners Life' in the UK. Quite easily found via the search engine. The DT file contains links to several past discussions of the song and its history. |
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03 Dec 08 - 02:50 PM (#2507065) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep your hands on your wages From: Dennis the Elder Thanks Steve and Malcolm, thats certainly the one |
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04 Dec 08 - 02:43 AM (#2507406) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep your hands on your wages From: pavane Mick Tems ('Catter) recorded it many years ago. Can't remember which album, but I do have it somewhere in my collection. |
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04 Dec 08 - 02:48 AM (#2507407) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep your hands on your wages From: pavane Album is Gowerton Fair, 1977, Mick Tems (From another thread) |
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20 Sep 20 - 07:23 PM (#4072616) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep your hands on your wages From: GUEST,Ray on youtube there is a live version of a song by scottish band Deacon Blue called Loaded which includes the lyrics this thread is about in an extended version during the miners strike in UK in the Thatcher years. |
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21 Sep 20 - 04:15 AM (#4072641) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep your hands on your wages From: r.padgett Miner's life is like a sailor's 'Board a ship to cross the wave Everyday, his life's in danger Still he ventures, being brave Watch the rocks, they're falling daily Careless miners always fail Keep your hand upon the dollar And your eye upon the scale Union miners stand together Heed no operator's tale Keep your hand upon the dollar And your eye upon the scale You've been docked and docked again, boys You've been loading two for one What have you to show for working Since this mining has begun? Just worn-out boots and worn-out miners And your children growing pale Keep your hand upon the dollar And your eye upon the scale Union miners stand together Heed no operator's tale Keep your hand upon the dollar And your eye upon the scale In conclusion, bear in memory Keep this password in your mind God provides for every worker When in union, they combine Then by honest weight, we labor Union miners will prevail So keep your hand upon the dollar And your eye upon the scale Union miners stand together Heed no operator's tale Keep your hand upon the dollar And your eye upon the scale Keep your hand upon the dollar And your eye upon the scale Just found this Dennis! sorry 12 years ago This version is from the Weavers folk group of fame ~ Dollar is replaced by wages in UK btw Operator becomes Owners' A number of groups have added to and or changed the song of course over the years and good luck to then check out mudcats database too Ray |
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21 Sep 20 - 04:46 AM (#4072643) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep your hands on your wages From: GUEST,jim bainbridge This song has links to the 'Miners' Lifeguard from the US & also an old Welsh hymnn, which may well be the original tune- hence Mick Tems' version in 1977? It's become popular in the folk clubs, normally a three verse version, and part of the Cotia Colliery/old Birtley folk club's honouring of Jack Elliott at the anuual Durham Miners' Gala. The 2017 performance of this can be seen on youtube- I don't do blue clickys, but put in A Miners' Life- Durham and you'll find it. |
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21 Sep 20 - 11:35 AM (#4072666) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep your hands on your wages From: Newport Boy The origin of the tune is uncertain. Abbey & Tillman copyrighted 'Life is Like a Mountain Railroad' in 1890, although it may have been written a little earlier. The Calon Lan tune was written by John Hughes, date unknown. The words were written as a poem by Daniel James in 1890 or 1891 and were later set to music. Later again, Daniel James met John Hughes and asked him to set the words. Hughes' tune rapidly became the most popular. The date of this tune is unknown but must have been before 1904, when it is known to have been sung. The tunes have many similarities and, since Hughes' tune is later, it seems likely that Hughes had heard Tillman's tune. |
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21 Sep 20 - 02:14 PM (#4072679) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep your hands on your wages From: Dennis the Elder Thanks Ray, you are never too late. Its good to know if I wait long enough you will answer. Cheers Ray, have fun, see you sometime soon I hope. |
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21 Sep 20 - 08:30 PM (#4072718) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep your hands on your wages From: Bill D A wonderful version of "Miner's Life" by Siwasnn George is available on Apple music..Here I have it on MP3 and it is one only two songs on the album she sings in English... |