Lyr Req: Coal by the Sea

Subject: Coal by the Sea
From: Celtic.Relics.com
Date: 14 Apr 00 - 02:29 PM

Hey Madcatters.... looking for a lyrics for "Coal by the Sea", a songs performed by those jovial miners from Cape Breton "Men of the Deeps".... any help or direction would be appreciated. I know you guys a smart bunch. Thnx

Subject: Lyr Add: SEACOALERS
From: MMario
Date: 14 Apr 00 - 05:03 PM

First thing I found was this. It's wrong, but interesting.

SEACOALERS

Damn the wind, damn the weans, damn the weather
As ye harness up old Betsy in the rain,
For yer knuckles are so cold ye can barely work the leather
So ye blow upon yer hands and start again.
Mind the pony's hooves upon the shingle.
Mind ye catch the turning o' the tide
And if ye find the load never let her harness jingle
Or you'll lose it tae the lads on either side.

Seacoalers! On the water! Miner's sons and tinker's daughters!
Pick and shovel, mare and foal! Seacoal!

Ye're waiting for the sea tae bring your livin',
For the leavin's o' the colliers o'er the bay.
Dusky diamonds in the foam, that's a' that you've been given
Tae keep yer children fed another day.
But now ye're cursing Lady Luck and a' her sisters
For there's barely half a bargain that you've won
And can ye meet yer lassie's eyes when ye know ye havnae kissed her
Since the price went down by thirty bob a ton?

Seacoalers! Hard drinkers! Damn the lot of them for tinkers!
Catch the waves as they roll! Seacoal!

Arthur Scargill says the miners give no quarter
Auld McGregor says the miners for the dole
Gie them pick, gie them pony, stand them baith out in the water,
And tell me wha's the first tae find the coal.

Seacoalers! Hell mend ye! Where's the union tae defend ye When the waters take their toll! Seacoal!

||: Coal in the water, coal in the sea. Coal in the sea, Seacoal. :||

Seacoalers! In the brakers! Fight the tide or meet yer maker!
Make a bargain for yer soul! Seacoal!

Seacoalers! Moonlighters! Bonny men and better fighters! Tae the Devil wi' yer dole! Seacoal!

Then I found another site, it says the tune is "Nine years a soldier" - and the words are by Gerard MacNeil but don't list the lyrics.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coal by the Sea
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 14 Apr 00 - 07:35 PM

MMario, the 'Seacoalers' you found is by Brian McNeill and can be found on the Battlefield Band's 'Celtic Hotel' (1987). One of my favourite songs to sing along with in the car! - Susanne

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coal by the Sea
From: GUEST,JasonGaudet
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 03:50 PM

Thanks for trying MMario, but that is not the particular song I am looking for. Men of The Deeps are from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and the song reflects the area. Any one else have any info?? Here is a wave file of the chorus.... here

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coal by the Sea
From: MMario
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 08:20 PM

Jason - found many references to the song and the group, but no lyrics.

Subject: Lyr Add: COAL BY THE SEA (from Men of the Deeps)
From: Celtic.Relics.com
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 11:33 AM

Thanks for the help, everyone. Just got an email from one of the members of "Men of the Deeps." Thanks goes out to Billy MacPherson for the lyrics.

COAL BY THE SEA

CHORUS: Mush a doo doo I a, singing fal the doo I addy
Mush a doo doo I a, singing fal the doo I ay
Mush a doo doo I a, singing fal the doo I addy
Mush a doo doo I a, singing fal the doo I ay

In Seventeen twenty, they sailed to C. B.
In search for the coal the cropped up by the sea.
They settled the land round Morien Bay,
And 'twas here that coal mining started they say. CHORUS

The mines shutdown at Morien Bay,
They packed up and moved to work in Glace Bay.
Seven mines did they open in this big town,
Yet only no. 26 is still to be found. CHORUS

Coal mining spread to many a town,
And as far as we know it will always be around.
Cape Breton is rich in coal fields, you see,
And it all began with that coal by the sea. CHORUS

The immigrants came from far and wide,
To work in coal mines side by side.
Mates became buddies and brothers to be,
Down in the deeps of ol' C. B. CHORUS

(*Recorded by Men of the Deeps - Album: Diamonds in the Rough)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coal by the Sea
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 08:55 PM

Thanks for the lyrics above, but you're missing a verse..

i heard a verse that sounds like..

"the immigrants came from far & wide
to work in the coal mines side by side
micks became buddies & brothers to be
down in the deeps of old CB"

Can anyone verify this verse?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coal by the Sea
From: GUEST,999
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 09:01 PM

Words by Gerard MacNeil
Tune: "Nine Years A Soldier"
© Waterloo Music Company.

1. In seventeen-twenty they sailed to CB,
In search for coal that outcropped by the sea;
They settled the land 'round Morien Bay,
'Twas here coal mining started, they say.

Chorus:
Mush-a-doo doo-i-a, singing fal the doo-i-addy,
Mush-a-doo doo-i-a, singing fal the doo-i-ay!

2. The immigrants came from far and wide,
To work in the coal mines side by side;
Mates became buddies and brothers to be,
Down in the deeps of old CB.

3. When the mines shut down at Morien Bay,
They packed up and left to work in Glace Bay;
Many mines did they open in this big town,
Now, my friends, there's none to be found.

4. Coal mining spread through many a town,
As far as we know it will always be around.
Cape Breton is rich in coal, you see,
And it all began with that coal by the sea.

from

http://www.beatoninstitutemusic.ca/mining/coal-by-the-sea-the-video.html