Lyr Add: The Miner's Song (Cameron)

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MINER'S SONG (from John Allan Cameron
From: GUEST,Marion
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 01:29 PM

The Miner's Song

Billy's first breath was the last for his mother
He was born on the shores of a town called Glace Bay
And all that he had was himself and his father
They lived in a house 'bout a mile down the way.
His dad was a big man and worked as a miner
Billy grew more to be like him each day
'Cause every boy's dream was to work with his father
In the mine that ran under the bay.

Chorus:
"My son," he said, "Don't be a miner
Cause it's hard work and too little pay
You dig in that hole for the company's coal
Y'wind up just digging your grave."

Billy grew older but never grew wiser
Fighting and drinking his young life away
He reached for the top but wound up on the bottom
Of the mine that ran under the bay.

Chorus

They say that it happened one morning in April
A cave-in that's number eleven that day
Billy got there as his dad reached the surface
And his dying words he did say:

Chorus

I don't know who wrote this song. I have heard it performed by John Allan Cameron, and recorded by McGinty (Halifax pub band).

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Miner's Song
From: Beer
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 08:46 PM

A million thanks Beer

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Miner's Song
From: masato sakurai
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 09:22 PM

Denis Conn wrote this song.

'My favourite track is next, Denis Conn's "The Miner's Song," made popular by John Allan Cameron. With the opening "Billy's first breath was the last of his mother/He was born on the shores of a town called Glace Bay," Gunning dedicates the song to the men who died in the Westray mine disaster. This is a beautiful song; the emotion in Gunning's voice and Cormier's fiddle accompaniment really suit the melancholy, serious message of the song. I've been to Glace Bay, and I've been in the mine. This song captures the sadness that hangs over it.'(From Dave Gunning, Caught Between Shadows)

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Miner's Song
From: BanjoRay
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 06:37 PM

Where's Glace Bay?

Ray

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Miner's Song
From: masato sakurai
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 08:19 PM

I think it's a Cape Breton town.

Glace Bay: The Colliery Route

Glace Bay Centennial Celebrations 2001

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Miner's Song
From: BanjoRay
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 07:11 AM

Thanks Masato

Ray