Lyr Req: One Miner's Life (Ed Pickford)

Subject: One Miner's Life
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 10 Oct 01 - 01:49 PM

We have this on vinyl by Battlefield band but no means of playing it. The song is one by Ed Pickford and I have tried a Google search for the lyrics without success and it does not appear to be in the digitrad. If anyone has the words I would be very grateful.
Thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One Miner's Life
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 10 Oct 01 - 03:22 PM

I've also checked a number of previous threads and the Dick Gaughan and Ed Pickford websites but neither show the lyrics to this one!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One Miner's Life
From: nutty
Date: 10 Oct 01 - 07:52 PM

Jane ... this Dick Gaughan site is interesting - it purports to contain lyrics to all the songs that he has recorded plus a few more but the Ed Pickford song does not appar to be here (unless it has another title) it night be worth checking out

blue clickie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One Miner's Life
From: Wolfgang
Date: 11 Oct 01 - 05:21 AM

I'm confident I have it at home. Look here tomorrow or Monday.

Wolfgang

Subject: Lyr Add: ONE MINER'S LIFE (Ed Pickford)
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 11 Oct 01 - 04:50 PM

ONE MINER'S LIFE
(Ed Pickford)

Chorus:
Who knows who you're crying for
Who knows who made us so poor
Who knows what you're gonna be
Who knows what's in store for ye

Now you are born, another to feed
Small are your wants lad, but great is your need
For work is scarce, your dad's on the dole
They want no more men for they've got too much coal

Now you're a boy, you play in the streets
Fish in the burn and performin' great feats
While the pitheaps stand, markin' the graves
Of fathers adn sons and the lives that they gave

Now you've left school, a man at thirteen
Your mother is grim as she looks on the scene
As she makes up your bait, you're off doon below
And awa' to the pit wi' your father you go

Now you're a man, you work in the mine
Wi' fightin' and strugglin', you're old 'fore your time
For the work it's hard, conditions are bad
And you've promised your son all the things you never had

Now you are old, you've worked all you can
But they're closin' the pits and you're part of a plan
To cut out waste and make the mines pay
So to hell wi' you now lad, and be on your way


Not checked, but I think it's fairly accurate for the Battlefield Band version. Some Info:
[1975:] Written by the talented Ed Pigford [sic!], Co. Durham, some two or three years ago. This song won the North East Folk Federation's annual songwriting competition. The son of a miner, Pigford obviously had his eye on men of his father's generation in composing this song. It is a fairly accurate assessment of the life and prospects of miners of that generation, the hard work often leading to pneumocconiosis and the dole as Lord Alfred Robens' period of closure and demoralisation of the industry shut down the bulk of Co. Durham's pits. (Notes 'The Bonnie Pit Laddie')

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One Miner's Life
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 11 Oct 01 - 07:01 PM

Thanks so much Suzanne - sounds pretty accurate from my memory. Will sing it this weekend at Llanstock.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One Miner's Life
From: Wolfgang
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 03:09 AM

Susanne, I had even looked into the well hidden 'All in one' file on 'My songbook'. It seems you have much more songs transcribed already than are on your page. Thanks, I have the lyrics with me and it is a pleasant surprise that I don't have to type.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One Miner's Life
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 08:45 PM

Wolfgang, I have, and I've said so before. (Sometimes a request will make me transcribe one more.) However, the ones at My Songbook are all checked against the recording I have whereas the others aren't yet. It takes time!