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07 Oct 24 - 04:11 PM (#4209395) Subject: Lyr Add: No You're not Going Down Kirby Pit Lads From: Monologue John NO YOU'RE NOT GOING DOWN KIRKBY PIT LADS by David J. Nuttall My sisters, brother and I will always be eternally grateful to our parents who worked unselfishly to provide opportunities for us in later life . They valued education and these verses recall my dad taking us lads down the pit to put us off coalmining as a job.... all true !!! ' No ! You're not going down Kirkby pit lads ! The graft down below's not for you So you'd better work hard at your schooling There's no way you'll end up there too . ' And I still can recall those dark mornings... Warm in bed , we could hear dad at four Down Pit Lane his steel boots would rattle But for his lads he wanted much more. We were born and brought up in South Yorkshire South Kirkby , the pit with rich seam. Me dad , Sam, were a cutter at this modern pit... His trypanner the N.C.B. 's dream . He wore shorts and a vest always sweating.. On his belt were his dudley and snap. Dark brown bacca twist he would chew all his shift Hard helmet he wore for a cap. Each pony he loved and gave sugar And the mice from his sandwiches ate And I can't recall those who had bad words for him His condor he'd share with his mate . But four times in his life he was buried... His back and his legs under stone And the brave rescue team always found him Some men silent whilst others made moan ! Blue scars on his back told their story His left knee cap... not there anymore With a stick he must walk...not needing to talk Of the N.U.M / N.C.B. war. One Sunday he called me and our Peter He said ' HURRY.....you're coming wi' me .' We put on our old clothes and we followed... He'd arranged us the coal face to see. ' Now this underground trip's not intended To broaden your minds or impress . It's just that for you all pit work is taboo You'll have reight jobs....don't settle for less .' I remember quite clearly the dropping As the cage made descent deep and down I remember me stomach leaping up to me gob And I saw on Pete's face a dark frown. So he showed us the water, he showed us the props And he showed us the face and the muck He showed us his cutter and hydraulic jacks Said ' With this lot you're having no truck . ' But for you two the future will be different For you......education's the key ! And the reason he went down Beamshaw each day.. His lads teachers....from pits we were free. And although our dad's passed away now Arthur Scargill warned what was in store.... Educated M.P.s killed the coalfields And South Kirkby pit is no more. The community died with the coalfield And me dad he would have much to say 'Cos the houses where we lived are flattened But the sign there says ' SCHOOL...STILL THIS WAY. ' |