Some from my book and sctssangsfurschools website
THE LITTLE COLLIER SLAVE
By Ewan McVicar

Tune The Handloom Weaver and the Factory Maid
I'm a handloom spinner, and my tale is sad
I fell in love with a collier lad
My father slighted him and his, and so
I went to live down in the Collier's Row

My mother tore her hair and wrung her hands
She cried aloud to hear the wedding banns
But still she helped me when my time had come
And I brought forth my little collier son

My little collier, born to be a slave
To wear his master's collar and be brave
To delve below the ground all alone
And listen every day for falling stone.
Until 1799 Scottish colliers were slaves, they and their families could not leave their employment.

WORKING AT THE WASHING RAKE
By Ewan McVicar
Tune Original
When you work at the washing rake
Picking out stones while your fingernails break
Your hair gets grubby and your muscles ache
Working at the washing rake

Up at the big house, I've been told
Are fine young ladies decked in gold
Dining on tea and cake
Not like here at the washing rake

Take take take me away
Over the hills and far off
Take take take me to where
I can't hear old miners cough

Broken old miners, cheeky young boys
Noise and dirt, dirt and noise
God have pity, come and take me
Far away from the washing rake.


THE COLLIER LAD
Collected by Stravaig member Phyllis Martin from 87 year old Agnes Mclean, a miner's daughter, at Kirkconnel.

O the collier lad he's my delight
He comforts me baith day and night
And though he's black his money's white
And ah dearly lo'e the collier o

O ma mither sent me tae the well
Tae get some water for ma tea
Ah tripped on a stane an doon ah fell
And a collier lad cam coortin me

O ah wish ah was a collier's wife
Then ah would live a happy life
A happy live as a collier's wife
And a lang lie in the mornin o

Ma mither warned me awfu weel
A wee wee bag would haud ma meal
And we'd aa gae mairchin tae the deil
The day ah merrit a collier o