'The Keelman'

written by Graham Searle and as sung by Ben Campbell

THE KEELMAN
(Graham Searle)

at Folk on the Moor, Wooter, near Ivybridge, every Sunday, but Ben injured himself yesterday and will not be at the St Albans folk club tonight, but his song will nevertheless be sung.

at the Duke of Marlborough, Holywell Hill, St Albans.

chorus

'Aye we would sweat, shovelling the coal, pulling hard on the oars.
The hours were long ,that shortened our lives,
Down on the Tyneside shore, down on the Tyneside shore

v1
The life of a keelman working the staithes,began as our childhood passed.
The money was poor and we paid in years,We knew that our dye it were cast.
The colliery boats out on the sea, took all the coals away,
Our bodies were torn, but our honour stayed strong, as we laboured the live long day.

v2
The bosses they knew that with heavier loads,they would line all their pockets with tin,
For our families needs we turned our worn hands to a battle we could not win.
We fought all the odds as best we might ,to load all the cursed coal,
That blackened our faces and blackened our gear, but never the keelman's soul.

v3
When the chapel bell rang to call us to prayer we would put on our Sunday best.
Blue jacket, white shirt, bell bottoms of grey, blue bonnets and a yella vest.
Reet grand were each man wi his kin by his side ,and proud were each loving wife,
But what of our hopes and what of our dreams wi a swift end to working life?

v4
By his 40th year a mans work were done for his body could take no more strain.
The call of old age would play its grim tune and all for a rich mans gain.
Only charity now will pay for his bread for what work can men like us do?
Our hearts maybe right but our muscles are weak, yet each to himself must be true


and its got a cracking tune preceded by the Keelrow


come tonight and you'll hear it, or Sunday at the Legion when we have the 'Spotlight' club in St Albans