Lyr Req/Add: Rule and Bant (Unstrung Heroes)

Subject: Unstrung Heroes - Rule and Bant
From: GUEST,Singerdave
Date: 15 Jun 16 - 09:30 AM

Looking for the lyrics to the above song title please.

Subject: Lyr Add: Rule and Bant (Roberts and Lakeman)
From: cnd
Date: 15 Jun 16 - 11:30 AM

I have one questionable spot in the lyrics, but other than that it should be right. I found a video of Unstrung Heroes singing the song but the audio was not great, so I'm going to base it off another recording first.

Here's the version of the song by Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman, from their album "2"

Also read more about the mine incident on this page: http://www.cornwall-calling.co.uk/mines/callington/drakewalls.htm

At the Drakewalls Mine in eighty-nine
Rule and Bant, they dug for tin
Forty fathoms down the mine
The roof collapsed, the world gave in

Ring the bell, run like hell
"Save our maids" the miners cried
Trapped down in their silent tomb
Rule and Bant considered doom

Where to dig, when to try
Who might have plans of the mine
Tell us now, before they die
To have no plans, it is a crime

Two days passed and Pinching came
Paced the earth and marched the ground
Told the miners where to dig
That's the place where they'll be found

"Rule and Bant," shout their names
"Hold on lads, we're coming"

Light that fuze, stand back quick
Gad and pick, and toil the slack
Then the air, so poisoned thick
Drove the miners to pull back

Thomas Bawden was the man
He racked his brains and made a plan
Blacksmith's bellows pumping air
Saved the lives of that poor pair

"Rule and Bant," shout their names
"Hold on lads, we're coming"

Eight days passed and on the sound
The muffled cries from underground
Grown me wept, I've heard them say
And ??gone asleep?? that joyfull day

Two more days they labored on
Til midnight on that Saturday
Weak and weary, still alive
Rule and Bant above did rise

"Rule and Bant," shout their names
"Well done lads, they're coming"

"Rule and Bant," shout their names
"Well done lads, they're coming"

Transposed by ear from here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP2eU7qqMXQ

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Req'd
From: cnd
Date: 15 Jun 16 - 11:46 AM

Corrections to the first set: the questionable part "??gone asleep??" is actually "Gunnislake"

And near there it should be grown MEN wept, not grown me

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Req'd
From: cnd
Date: 15 Jun 16 - 11:46 AM

Corrections to the first set: the questionable part "And ??gone asleep??" is actually "In Gunnislake"

And near there it should be grown MEN wept, not grown me

Subject: Lyr Add: Rule and Bant (Unstrung Heroes)
From: cnd
Date: 15 Jun 16 - 11:59 AM

So here are the slight alterations made to follow the Unstrung Heroes version, found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOZLNMmQVVg

There are two parts I still can't quite make out, the first one being at around 1:40 into the video and the other at around 3:10

RULE AND BANT
(Unstrung Heroes)

At the Drakewalls Mine in eighty-nine
Rule and Bant, they dug for tin
Forty fathoms down, dark as the night
The roof collapsed and their world caved in

Run like hell, ring the bell
"Save our maids" the miners cried
Trapped below in their silent tomb
Rule and Bant contemplated doom

"Rule and Bant," shout their names
"Hold on lads, we're coming"

Where to dig or when to try
No one has the plans of the mine
For God's sake, now who's in charge?
Not keeping plans, it is a crime

Two days passed and Pinching came
??Where his ?shaft? and his burden grew??
He paced on the ground and marked the earth
Told them "dig boys, for all you're worth"

"Rule and Bant," shout their names
"Hold on lads, we're coming"

"Rule and Bant," shout their names
"Hold on lads, we're coming"

Light that fuze, stand well back
Blast and pick all the way to slag
Then the air, so thick and foul
Drove the ??prestorous?? under ground

Moses Bawden was the man
Racked his brains and arranged a plan
Blacksmith's bellows pumping air
Saved the lives of that wretched pair

"Rule and Bant," shout their names
"Hold on lads, we're coming"

Two days passed and oh, the sound
Their muffled cries from underground
Grown men wept, I've heard them say
In Gunnislake on that joyful day

Two more days they labored on
Til midnight on that Saturday
Weak and weary, but alive
Rule and Bant to the surface came

"Rule and Bant," shout their names
"Hold on lads, we're coming"

"Rule and Bant," shout their names
"Well done lads, they're coming"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Req'd
From: GUEST,singerdave
Date: 15 Jun 16 - 12:05 PM

cnd, thank you.

Subject: RE: req/Add: Rule and Bant (Unstrung Heroes)
From: Sugwash
Date: 16 Jun 16 - 03:23 AM

??Where his ?shaft? and his burden grew??

With his staff and wooden rule.

Here's a Youtube of the author, the excellent Geoffrey Lakeman, singing the song.

clicky

Subject: RE: req/Add: Rule and Bant (Unstrung Heroes)
From: Marje
Date: 16 Jun 16 - 03:36 AM

This song was written by Geoff Lakeman, who is part of Unstrung Heroes but also performs it in his solo work. It would be sensible to be aware of this, and only fair to credit him if you intend to perform it or share it.

Marje