Hmmm 1 At the risk of double posting - I have put this up in the British Coal Thread, but my original thought was to put it here - so here it is - and for Catters with an historicl bent it refers to the strike of 1973/4 wot brought the Heath Government down.

Or as we use to say 1979/1997 "Come back Ted all is forgiven !!"

But - Butties

Did you understand ?

by Max Boyce

I remember the time of the collier and the candle,
Of a long bitter fight that darkened the land.
And I asked you the question but you wouldn't answer:
When I asked you the question did you understand?

Collier laddie, collier boy.

I saw mills and machines, all lying there idle;
A million or more unemployed in the land.
And I asked them the question but they wouldn't answer:
When I asked them the question did they understand?

Collier laddie, collier boy.

Then I saw the ones sit in the seats of decision;
They sat and they judged the mincrs' demand.
And they all heard the case of the lowly-paid miner:
But though they decided, did they understand?

Collier laddie, collier boy.

Then I saw an old collier, whose body lies broken,
Claimed by the dust much finer than sand.
And I asked him the question, though now he can't answer:
I'll ask him the question he'll understand.

Collier laddie, collier boy.

Gareth