Lyr Add: The Prince of Darkness (McNeill, Miller)

Subject: Lyr Req: Brian McNeill song about miners
From: DonMeixner
Date: 25 Nov 04 - 12:50 PM

I'm looking for lyrics to a song with the chorus line,

"I used to battle with the prince of Darkness"

Also The title would be nice to. I have this on a live at Millenium Stage concert but there are no credits for it. Ed Miller sings it while Brian fiddles. A great song.

Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brian McNeill song about miners
From: DonMeixner
Date: 25 Nov 04 - 12:56 PM

Well in five minutes I have learned it's called The Prince of Darkness. Thanks Google.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brian McNeill song about miners
From: DonMeixner
Date: 26 Nov 04 - 08:58 AM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brian McNeill song about miners
From: Jeri
Date: 26 Nov 04 - 10:35 AM

Somebody may have already transcribed the words so you won't have to. (I don't have it recorded anywhere and never heard it before Googling) Here's some other helpful, but not-exactly-what-you-want information:

This review page says it's a "joint McNeill (words) and Miller (music) composition." Scroll down for "Lowlander."

Here's Ed Miller's website, which you probably already know about.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brian McNeill song about miners
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Nov 04 - 02:25 PM

THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS is sung by Ed Miller on his album "The Lowlander" (with instrumental backup by Brian McNeill).

You can hear a generous 2-minute sound sample at CD Baby, from which I transcribed this:

I was born in the village of Kilkenzie,
And my faither was an elder o' the kirk,
And the day I turned thirteen, he looked me in the een
And told me it was time I was in work;
For employment was a way to beat the devil,
And I must challenge him wherever he was found;
That if I wanted decent pay, there were five different ways:
North, south, east, west or down.

CHORUS: I used to battle wi' the Prince o' Darkness.
I used to steal away his heart through a four-foot seam.
And when they asked if I was poor, I'd tell them, "Aye, sure,"
But they never had to teach me how to dream.

Oh, the first time I went in, then I was shakin'.
I was just a laddie frightened o' the dark,
But wi' a cutter in my hands, I soon became a man.
I was surely never frightened o' the wark.
I learned to listen for the creakin' o' the timbers,
Tae watch the air aroond the candle flame,
And on ev'ry sweated ... (?) and you have many risks to run (?)
And that danger was a miner's middle name. CHORUS

[The Greenman Review has this interesting quote:]

"McNeill wrote the words after meeting an ex-miner, now working as a museum guide [at the Scottish Mining Museum in Newtongrange], whose stock answer to those tourists naively asking to which clan he belonged was that his clan were the miners."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brian McNeill song about miners
From: DonMeixner
Date: 27 Nov 04 - 02:47 PM

Thanks Jim, I appreciate this very much. I have decided to buy the Lowlander CD from Ed Millers website. Now I know that it isn't the American way to support the artist directly but what the hell. I have always been a bit of a rebel.

Thanks for the info and the blueclicky.

Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brian McNeill song about miners
From: JedMarum
Date: 27 Nov 04 - 04:26 PM

great song - and the Ed's LOWLANDER is a terrific album!

Ed used to have a bumper sticker/promo for that album, that came out around the days when The Highlander movies and TV series were popular ... You know the Highlander series had a slogan, "Highlander; there can be only one!"

Ed's bumper sticker said "Lowlander - there can be a few"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brian McNeill song about miners
From: Jeri
Date: 27 Nov 04 - 05:29 PM

I think the line is
"And on (could be 'round') ev'ry sweated turn I knew how many risks were run." I'd bet there's at least one more verse. In any case, it looks like good CD.

Funny bumper sticker. (I wonder how many people read it, and drove off thinking, "Huh?")

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brian McNeill song about miners
From: DonMeixner
Date: 28 Nov 04 - 08:19 AM

Jeri,

Good guess, theres about 8 verses. I recieved email from Ed Miller. He says he has been doing this song for awhle now, a few years abyway, and it still gives him chills everytime he sings it.

For the song go to The Millenium Stage and search July 2003. It is in Brian McNeill and Friends. You'll see why it is so effective.

Don

Subject: Lyr Add: THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS (McNeill, Miller)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 28 Nov 04 - 03:24 PM

Don: Thanks for pointing me to the Millennium Stage! It looks like a rich resource. I've bookmarked their archive search page and plan to return to it to view other performances.

I liked this song so well I decided to transcribe the whole thing. A few words are different from the 2 verses I posted above. The concert is called Brian McNeill and Friends: New Songs of Scotland. You can play a video of it by going to that page and clicking "Play this Performance." Ed Miller begins his spoken introduction at 10 minutes into the 54-minute program.

I had to guess at some place names. Corrections are welcome.

THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS
(Words, Brian McNeill. Music, Ed Miller)

I was born in the village of Kilkenzie,
And my faither was an elder o' the kirk,
And the day I reached sixteen, he looked me in the een
And told me it was time I was in work;
For employment was a way to fight the devil,
And I must challenge him wherever he was found;
That if I wanted decent pay, there were five different ways:
North, south, east, west or down.

CHORUS: I used to battle wi' the Prince o' Darkness.
I used to steal [or "tear"] away his heart [or "soul"] through a four-foot seam.
And when they asked if I was poor, I'd tell them, "Aye, sure,"
But they never had to teach me how to dream.

Oh, the first time I went in, then I was shakin'.
I was just a laddie frightened o' the dark,
But wi' a cutter in my hand, I soon became a man,
And I was surely never frightened o' the wark.
I learned to listen for the creakin' o' the timber,
Tae watch the air aroond the candle flame,
And on ev'ry sweated turn I knew how many risks were run,
And that danger was a miner's middle name. CHORUS

So I went down in Newtongrange and Kirkcaldy,
Sweatin' blood for seven bob a week;
And in the shuttle and the cage, I learned the values of the age
From men who never turned the other cheek;
And when my father asked if I was still for Jesus,
Was he my hope and my Savior doon the mine,
I said I'd bow my head in prayer if I turned and found Him there
At my shoulder on a union picket line. CHORUS

But now I work in the Mining Museum.
I show the tourists what my job used to be;
And when they ask about my clan, I tell them I'm a workin' man,
And the union was clan enough for me.
It gave me brothers frae the Rettin (?) tae the Rhondda,
And comrades frae the Rockies tae the Vans (?)
But there's nae coloured freer race (?) when ye're sweatin' at the face
Wi' a pick or a shovel in your hand. CHORUS

Ah, but now we've a government in London,
And the New Labour Party's won the day,
And they come back to find their roots in their sharp Italian suits,
And when the cameras are gone, so are they.
And they whisper that socialism's dyin',
Ye cannae sell it at the supermarket till;
But where there's fifty lads like me, we'll make bloody sure they see
That ideas are the hardest things to kill. CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brian McNeill song about miners
From: DonMeixner
Date: 28 Nov 04 - 03:59 PM

Thanks Jim,

I do appreciate this greatly.

Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brian McNeill song about miners
From: Big Mick
Date: 28 Nov 04 - 04:58 PM

I absolutely love that song, Don. Thanks to all for bringing it here. I will be looking for it straitaway.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brian McNeill song about miners
From: GUEST,Aorr
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 02:33 PM

Hi, Thank you for the words. I've been searching for these lyrics for a long time. :-)

Take care,
-Andy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brian McNeill song about miners
From: GUEST,Seamus Kennedy sans cookie
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 09:10 PM

Don, what do you mean it's not the American way to support the artist directly? If you buy the CD from Ed's website, he gets paid, and he pays royalties to Brian O'Neill. And you get a helluva CD.
Everybody makes out! What's unAmerican about that? *G*
By the way, Ed will be performing with me and Cathy Ryan and many other acts on a Celtic Cruise to the Caribbean from Jan 28 til Feb 6th.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brian McNeill song about miners
From: Jeri
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 09:34 PM

Don was being snarky, back there in '04, and saying nobody else would do something like buying the CD.

I really wish I could afford one of those musical cruises - they always sound like so much fun!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brian McNeill song about miners
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 11:52 PM

Sorry, Jeri.
I didn't see the date. Oops.
Sorry, Don!

Seamus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brian McNeill song about miners
From: GUEST,Don Meixner
Date: 06 Jan 06 - 12:34 AM

Seamus,

I am amazed that you don't recognize sarcasm when it is right there in front of you in print.

Don

BTW, Delaney went to Ireland and came back with a Lowden Guitar. What a machine.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brian McNeill song about miners
From: GUEST,Don
Date: 06 Jan 06 - 12:35 AM

Snarky?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brian McNeill song about miners
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 06 Jan 06 - 02:02 AM

Don, forgive me. Print sarcasm is my favorite kind. It was nice of you not to notice my error on Brian's name.
Snarky - mildly curmudgeonly. That's definitely not you Don.
Kendall, yes. But not you.
Delaney and a Lowden. What a mismatch! The Lowden doesn't stand a chance!
What's he gonna do with the Adamas?

Seamus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brian McNeill song about miners
From:
Date: 06 Jan 06 - 02:54 AM

Some corrections for you Jim, I'm not certain of the Redden/Redon

I was born in the village of Cockenzie.

It gave me brothers from the Redden tae the Rhonda,
And comrades from the Rockies tae the Rand,
But there's nae colour, creed or race...

Apart from these corections Ed Miller's singing has a few other differences.

Cheers, Jack

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brian McNeill song about miners
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 06 Jan 06 - 03:41 PM

Seamus: Here's a helpful hint: The next time someone accuses you of not recognizing sarcasm, tell them: "Hey, I did recognize it. I was being sarcastic, too. How come YOU didn't notice?"

But of course a person who is fully committed to sarcasm as a life style would never say such a thing, unless he meant it sarcastically.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brian McNeill song about miners
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jan 06 - 04:09 PM

Yeah Seamus! Thats right!


BTW, Bill still has the Ovation and he still plays it time to time. But damn that Lowden is a sweet sounding guitar. The Lowden was a gift from his newish wife Jean. Maybe we'll share a stage somewhere, he loves to show it off.


Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brian McNeill song about miners
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 06 Jan 06 - 09:00 PM

Brian McNeill is a great wordsmith.

You can see him in Scotland this month at the Celtic Connections Festival and in the south of England at Easter at the Fareham & Gosport Easter Festival in Hampshire.

He's always a great performer live.

Ed

Subject: Lyr Add: THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS (McNeill, Miller)
From: Big Mick
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 02:31 AM

One more correction.

Second to the last verse, one line up from the bottom of the verse:

"But there's no colour, creed, nor race, when you're sweatin' at the face...."

In fact here are the complete verses, with all corrections in it:

I was born in the Village of Cockenzie, and my Faither was an elder of the Kirk
On the day I turned 13, he looked me in the ee'n,
and told me it was time I was at work
For employment was the way to beat the devil,
and I must challenge him wher'eer he is found
But if I wanted decent pay, there were five different ways,
North, South, East, West or down

Chorus:
I used to battle wi' the Prince of Darkness,
I used to steal away his heart through a four foot seam
And if they asked if I was poor, I'd tell 'em, "Aye, sure"
But they never had to teach me how to dream.

Ah the first time I went under I was shakin',
I was just a laddie frightened o' the dark
But wi' a cutter in mah hands, I soon became a man,
I was surely never frightened o' the work
I learned to listen for creakin' of the timbers,
tae watch the air around the candle flame
And in every sweated ton, I knew how many risks we'ed run,
and that danger was a miner's middle name (Chorus)

I went in at Newtongrange and Kirkcaldy,
sweatin' blood for seven bob a week
And in the shuttle and the cage, I learned the spirit of the age,
from men who never turned the other cheek.
And when my Father asked if I was still for Jesus?
Was he my help and saviour down the line?
I said I'd bow my head in prayer, if I turned and found him there,
At my shoulder on a union picket line (Chorus)

But now I work in the Mining Museum,
show the tourists what my job used to be.
And when they ask about my clan, I tell 'em I'm a workin' man
And the Union is clan enough for me
It gave me brothers from the Redden tae the Rhonda,
And comrades from the Rockies tae the Rand,
For there's nae colour, creed, or race, when you're sweatin' at the face
Wi' a pick or shovel in your hand (Chorus)

And now we've a government in London, and the New Labor Party's won the day
And they come back to find their roots, in their sharp Italian suits
And when the cameras are gone, so are they.
And they whisper that socialisms dying,
ya cannie sell it at the supermarket till
But while there's 50 left like me, we'll make bloody sure they see,
That ideas are the hardest thing to kill (Final Chorus)

I just may do this at Utah Phillips fundraiser next month.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brian McNeill song about miners
From: Captain Ginger
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 03:00 AM

Thanks for that Mick - a great song, and definitely one for the 'to learn' list, which grows ever longer...

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Prince of Darkness (McNeill, Miller)
From: GUEST,Blueghost
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 07:58 PM

Does anyone know the chords for this song? If so may I have them?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Prince of Darkness (McNeill, Miller)
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Mar 09 - 11:55 PM

I'm a collector of coal mining songs. The only version of "The Prince of Darkness" that I have been able to find is by Ed Miller on the album "Lowlander" (very powerful & poignant). What other versions are available? My e-mail address is [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Prince of Darkness (McNeill, Miller)
From: JedMarum
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 08:50 AM

Brian sings this song in shows. And he and Ed sing it together, but I don;t who else has recorded it. It is a great song. Powerful and beautiful.