The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #172680 Message #4180990
Posted By: GUEST,Brian_M
08-Sep-23 - 12:32 PM
Thread Name: Origins: What is this MacColl coal mining song?
Subject: Origins: What is this coal mining song?
I was watching the documentary "The Coal War" from BBC Panorama on Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m3Cvw5Ybmg
At 4:40 and 5:30, snippets of a song are heard. The lyrics are as follows:
""I'm going down, although I am a Durham lad brought up in busty coal.
I'm going down 'cause here the seams are all worked out and I don't want the dole.
I'm going down to Nottingham good prospects are my goal.
I'm going down although it grieves me sore to leave the town and folk I know.
I'm going down because I am a miner born, I'll stay a miner still."
Comments on the video suggest that it is Ewan McColl singing, but I've not been able to get a title. It's a beautiful song, and I'd love to be able to hear the full version if such a thing exists, but maybe it was something that the singer just improv'd or something, as the lyrics sound like they're contemporary to the events shown in the documentary. But if anyone has any info, it would be most appreciated.