Lyr Req: Red Jacket Mine Explosion

Subject: Lyrics Req - Red Jacket Mine Explosion
From: GUEST,sunnybrook30
Date: 05 Jan 05 - 08:39 AM

Does anyone have the words for "Red Jacket Mine Explosion"? The tune of this song closely resembles "Red River Valley" and I believe it was originally recorded by the Phipps Family. It starts out with:

Why did the camp seem so lonely
And why were they feeling so strange
It seemed every person was restless
But why had there come such a change

That evening the men lingered longer.....

And that's all the words I have. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Subject: Lyr Add: RED JACKET MINE EXPLOSION (A. L. Phipps)
From: Stewie
Date: 05 Jan 05 - 07:26 PM

Here you go:

THE RED JACKET MINE EXPLOSION
(A. L. Phipps)

Why did the camp seem so lonely
And why were they feeling so strange
It seems every person was restless
But why had there come such a change?

That evening the men lingered longer
But at last they did start for the mine
For they thought that their duty had summoned
And their duty required them on time

It seemed every nerve was at tension
Such an unusual silence around
Then the silence was suddenly broken
By a shock from in under the ground

What could have brought such disturbance
Oh what could have caused them such a fright
In terror, they cried 'an explosion!'
What a scene on that sad Friday night

The machines had rolled down the mountain
There were screams and cries filled the air
In this terror all filled with excitement
Everyone seemed to whisper a prayer

All the camp people rushed to the mountain
To inquire for their loved ones and friends
Oh, how sad, for the smoke was a-rollin'
And the mines was (sic) a-burnin' within

Forty-five miners killed in a moment
Many burned in their beauty and prime
May we all be at peace with our maker
We may answer our call anytime

Red Jacket's camp's famous beauty
Now looks not the same as before
You can see now something is missing
That never can return anymore

Source: transcription by Bill Vernon in booklet insert for The Phipps Family 'Faith, Love and Tragedy' Folkways FA 2375 [1963].

Note by Bill Vernon:

Perhaps the most interesting song on this LP is The Red Jacket Mine Explosion, a song written by A.L. Phipps which commemorates an actual explosion at the Red Jacket Mine on the night of Friday, April 22, 1938; the mine was located on Keen Mountain in Hanger, Virginia. The force of this dust explosion was sufficient to blast several miners and a great deal of mining equipment and machinery from the depth of the mine all the way out its entrance, causing much of the machinery to roll down the side of the mountain. In all, forty-five miners were killed in the blast, making it one of the worst mining disasters in this country's history.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyrics Req - Red Jacket Mine Explosion
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 05 Jan 05 - 07:43 PM

Good job as usual, Stewie. I was gearing up to make a trancription attempt, but now I don't have to. About all I can add is that it uses the tune for Red River Valley & other related songs.

Subject: RE: Lyrics Req - Red Jacket Mine Explosion
From: Stewie
Date: 05 Jan 05 - 07:49 PM

Dale, pleased to note that you still drop in to Mudcat from time to time. Best wishes for 2005.

Regards, Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyrics Req - Red Jacket Mine Explosion
From: GUEST,sunnybrook30
Date: 06 Jan 05 - 11:12 PM

WOW, that was fast! Thanks, Stewie!

Rebecca