THE THREE FOOT SEAM (trad Aspey)

Chorus
Working in a three foot seam
Well I'll tell you boys this life is not a dream
There's no joy to be found
When you're two miles underground
And you're working in a three foot seam

Now don't you think they're making you a gift
They pay a bloody pittance for a shift
While you're sweating out your soul
And for every ton of coal
There's a ton of dirt and rock you have to shift

Chorus

Up above the ground the weather may be fine
But you're stuck there where the sun don't ever shine
And you're crawling like a rat
And in your heart you're wishing that
You were any place except down in the mine

Chorus

Bad conditions have prevailed for far too long
So join the unions then we cannot be far wrong
And together we can tell
The bosses GO TO HELL
For the unions voice is many thousands strong

Chorus

From the album 'From the North' Gary and Vera Aspey (12TS255)

Sleeve notes
The song is said to have been written at the time when the Lancashire Miners Federation was just being formed,1893-6,though other reports have dated it as far back as 1866.Our thanks to John Smethurst and Chris Cheetham,our sorce for this song.

I can't find any record of this album being released on CD,so it is probaly unavialable until Topic decide differently.