The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #61377   Message #987019
Posted By: Gareth
20-Jul-03 - 12:16 PM
Thread Name: Mining songs (UK)
Subject: Lyr Add: DID YOU UNDERSTAND? (Max Boyce)
Mmmm! this one seems to be also missing. It refers to the 1974 Strike, before Scargill reenacted the Charge of the Light Brigade.

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 miners' 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."



As was said at the time "The Yorkshire Miners will fight to the last Welshman."

Gareth