When I started in folk clubs and worked down the pit I never used to sing mining songs. I left that to social workers and cost accountants.

However, with this song I made an exception. (OK. I also sang The Recruited Collier.)

As I had been listening to my older brother's MacColl records whilst still at school, I started at the pit thinking I knew a few terms and words to describe things. But most of the words weren't ones we used down our pit nor indeed the training centre at Orgreave. Hewer, paddy train, collier... Had to get them out of my head!