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1. |
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My Pony (Wright)
My pony, he’s been through it all
My pony, I pick him up when he falls
My pony, he carries a load on his back
For no reason he knows
My pony, he tells me no lies
My pony, well he’s seen me cry
My pony, he’s lived all his life in the dark
Never once seen the light
Wild boy, green pastures are waiting
You’ll soon leave this old mine behind
Someday, the sun will beat down on your back
It’s a life time away
From the dark of this place
By the light of a silvery dream
My pony, he shakes when he walks
My pony, he’s too old to work
My pony, he stares in the eyes of a man with a gun
Who would soon take his life
My pony, he dreamt he had wings
My pony, and all the beautiful things
My pony, like being lifted from out of this hole
The world his for the taking
Wild boy, green pastures are waiting
You’ll soon leave this old mine behind
Someday, the sun will beat down on your back
I will follow you there
Yes, I’ll follow you there
By the light of a silvery moon
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The Greatest Loscoe Miner (Kerry)
Hear the story of The Greatest Loscoe Miner
As strong as the winds that would carry him home
He’d work as deep as the oceans
And his breath hit the walls that were dark as the night
He lived in a world full of sorrow
And he crawled like a beast to the cruellest of lights
His stories would make all men wonder
And his eyes blue like steel bore the scars of the wheel
His drinking was as hard as the frozen land
Which he worked so far beneath
His hands were as wide as the ropes that they served
And his skin was as blackened as the thoughts in his mind
And while others lay down where no man ever should
He’d dance on the floor of the welfare hall
Hear the story of The Greatest Loscoe Miner
As strong as the winds that would carry him away
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3. |
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Welfare Hall (Carey/Wright))
In the heart of old Sherwood, where three rivers rise,
And the pit tips stand proud in the sky.
Coal it was King and the band's filled the floor,
Those Headstocks are turning no more.
Chorus:
Rest easy old miner, be proud of what you've done,
The pits they have closed them all, one by one.
For sure your old way of life it has gone
And the coal dust it lies in your lungs.
They'd ride to the coal face, no fear in their souls,
Go on to win the black gold.
The shaft has been filled, the stable hole gone
Your ploughshares have all been sold.
Chorus
Oh Daddy , our Daddy, I'm sure I still hear
When they call out the numbers or sing,
Or the smell of tobacco or stale bitter beer,
Or wear your old Claddagh ring.
Chorus
Now the railyard is that, and the brickyard is dust
But the people there still stand tall
And your spirit it moves, and the music still plays
To ghosts, in the old Welfare Hall....
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4. |
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Dance of The Miner (Taylor)
Put mi snap in mi tin Ma I'm gooin dahn t’ mine
I'll put a chock in the seam boys, lets hope it’s all fine
I'll tek mi Monday hammer and mi elephants tab
By the time it’s Wednesday … no energy I'll ‘av
I need pahnds in mi pocket, cos we’re gooin dahn t' goose fair
I’ll spend all mi money on loose women and beer
A powder monkey is what thi’ call me
If I get aht this mine luv, a miracle twill be
(BREAK)
CHORUS I
Oh I'll … spend all mi money on women and beer
This life is for living, I'll bid y' good cheer
That's why on a Friday in't pub y'll find me
Drinking good ale and dancin’ so free
CHORUS II
Oooooh … dance away to the sweet melody
Pick out y’ partner … step one, two, three
When a miner is dancin’ he's never so free
Pick out y’ partner … step one, two, three (BREAK)
Well he dun’t even know if that shift he'll survive
If he’ll keep his good health, if he’ll gerraht alive
There's many a miner, gone dahn that dark ‘ole
Left a poor lass all scratin at ‘ome
That’s why he imagines birds in the trees
The sweet caress of a soft summer breeze
Oh n’ he longs for the women he's aching t’ please
He’s always dancing, though he's dahn on his knees
CHORUS I
CHORUS II
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5. |
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School Days Over (MacColl)
Schooldays over, come on then John
Time to be getting your pit boots on
On with your sack and your moleskin trousers
Time you were on your way
Time you were learning the pitman's job
And earning a pitman's pay.
Come on then Jim, it's time to go
Time you were working down below
Time to be handling a pick and shovel
You start at the pits today
Time to be learning the collier's job
And earning a collier's pay.
Come on then Dai, it's nearly light
Time you were off to the anthracite
The morning mist is on the valley
It's time you were on your way
Time you were learning the miner's job
And earning a miner's pay
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6. |
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Sons & Lovers (Kerry/Lawrence)
Hell Row was broken cottages by the brook on Greenhill Lane
Colliers and lovers worked in gin pits fields away
They worked in gin pits fields away, Lord
Worked in gin pits fields away
The stream ran under alder trees some spoiled by mines within
The coal brought to the surface by beasts circlin’ round a gin
By beasts circlin’ round a gin, Lord
By beasts circlin’ round a gin
Chorus
I’m your son I’m not her lover, Lord
Hell Row has broken deep my soul
He realised how hard it was for his wife not to waste
His sympathy was quickened by his penitence and haste
By his penitence and haste, Lord
By his penitence and haste
And he come home from the pit that night and stayed the evening still
For he could not stay at home, was almost sober still
He was almost sober still, Lord
He was almost sober still
Chorus
The country it was dark and still and stars shone up in place
Between the terror and the void was no time only space
There was no time only space, Lord
There was no time only space
And she were all that held him up him sen amidst this mast
“I’m you son, I’m not her lover Lord” he said his mouth set fast
Oh he said his mouth set fast, Lord
Yeah, he said his mouth set fast
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7. |
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Annesley Headstocks (Carey)
Here the Headstocks, red and white,
That stood gleaming in the light,
Where now there's just rubble and a hole,
Where the men who won the coal,
Came to work down the black hole,
Beneath the bleak and barren hills of Annesley.
Oh! The school upon the hill,
I can see and hear it still,
Like the colliery, vanished and long gone.
And the Welfare's boarded up,
Where the lads would go and sup,
And send their sons to the Order of St. John.
Clanking sidings yard at night,
Days of steam, trains all black bright,
And the Warren, park pond and the woods,
Now the railway it is back, with its tunnel and it's track,
And it bears the name of mighty Robin Hood.
All Saints bright shining spire,
Of seeing you we'll never tire,
As you look down upon all that we survey,
Look beyond the oak and gorse, and you will see of course,
A new Jerusalem of glass, and sheds of grey.
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8. |
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Death of a Child Miner (Kerry)
In 1844, upon the coldest day
Old Loscoe pits they laystill, upon that coldest day
They laystill like they’d done before but on that coldest day
Their laystill was in consequnce of the death of a fallen boy
Samuel Weston wor’is name, and he come from up Taghill
Samuel Weston wor’is name, and he come from up Taghill
He wo’ked the pits darhn Loscoe, and his young life he did risk
And his death it was in consequence of a foot-hold that he missed
Samuel Weston dropped them chains darhn in the deepest shaft
He dropped them heavy chains ag’en darhn in the deepest shaft
Them heavy chains and his frail frame made a sarhnd no one would hear
And his death it was in consequence on his forteenth youngest year
In 1845, on the latest day in May
Old Loscoe pits they laystill, on the latest day in May
They laystill like they’d done before but on that day in May
Their laystill was in conseqence of the death of a fallen boy
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9. |
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Working Man (MacNeil)
It's a working man l am
And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun
Or for any length of time
I can hold it in my mind
I never again will go down under ground
At the age of sixteen years
Oh, he quarrels with his peers
Who vowed they'd never see another one
In the dark recess of the mines
Where you age before your time
And the coal dust lies heavy on your lungs
It's a working man l am
And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun
Or for any length of time
I can hold it in my mind
I never again will go down under ground
At the age of sixty four
Oh, he'll greet you at the door
And he'll gently lead you by the arm
Through the dark recess of the mines
Oh, he'll take you back in time
And he'll tell you of the hardships that were had
It's a working man l am
And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun
Or for any length of time
I can hold it in my mind
I never again will go down under ground
It's a working man l am
And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun
Or for any length of time
I can hold it in my mind
I never again will go down under ground
It's a working man l am
And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun
Or for any length of time
I can hold it in my mind
I never again will go down under ground
God, I never again will go down under ground
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10. |
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Tiny Giant (Carey)
Our Grandad's name was David Hind,
He was an Ostler down the mine,
His Daddy lost an arm one day,
Run over by a shirehorse dray.
Chorus 1.
He mended clocks, played music too,
He liked to have a drink or two,
He wore a waistcoat, watch and chain,
We'll never see his like again.
He saw a map, it made him think,
Why much of earth was coloured pink,
A cruel Empire, a moral dearth,
While his bare feet still touched the earth.
Chorus 2:
He kept a parrot in a cage,
His wife lies in an unmarked grave,
He wore a waistcoat, watch and chain,
We'll never see his like again.
Chorus 1.
One week he built a pigeon loft,
From painted doors and Brattice cloth,
Now when we look back it seems
Those birds were all his hopes,
And all his dreams.
Chorus.
Our Grandad's name was David Hind,
A smaller man was hard to find,
And once wheat we'd go and see
Our Grandad's ponies....running free
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11. |
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Where Ya Goin’ When Ormonde Shuts (Kerry/Watson)
Where ya gooin’ when Ormonde shuts?
Ay ya ‘aird yet where yu’ll goo?
I ant made mi mind up yet,
I ant even asked arh Flo’
Reckon I’ll goo ta Babbington
Or worrabarht Moorgreen
Them pits ant got long to goo
Yeah I know pal what ya mean
It dunt matter where ya gooin’
‘cos you’ll ay ta flit agen
Burrifya goo a long way arht
Then worra abarht arh Gwen?
I had a pal who went ta Calverton,
And he come arht all in biles
But cud they gerra doctor arht
There wont one fa bloody miles
Narh they’re stuck arht in country
Wi ‘is missus aullers sicknin’
She’s ‘arpin’ on abarht ‘er achin’ back
It’s from all that tatar pickin’
And the rate their gerrin’ coal arht narh
Them new pits not last forever
And if ya see it comin’ arht
It’s like a gret black dotteh river
Where ya gooin’ when Ormonde shuts
Well it’s no gud askin’ Flo
And it’s no gud askin’ gaffer
‘cos ee dunt bloody know
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12. |
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Mine Eyes (Stafford)
As I look into the sky and the wheels catch mine eyes
Spitting out rays of the sun
I can still hear men talking, as I often went a walking
To the dark days of work that we done
In the quiet of the night the tears fill mine eyes
As I think of all the workmates that I knew
Though some in the hereafter I can still hear jokes and laughter
Maybe I can share some with you
Spoken
It seems like only yesterday
Those wheels turned their last
Now cemented in concrete blocks
With fancy word's on a plaque.
Gazing into the clear blue skies I often wonder why
We toiled away from the sun
For now I spend time yearning and wish that we’d been earning
In a daylight world full of fun
Now … as I look into the sky, mine eyes are filled with pride
As I drink a toast and recall
That we never took for granted, good times were all we wanted
Here’s to my mates, God bless them all.
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13. |
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When Coal Was King (Taylor)
Granddaddy spent // all his days in the mine
Lost two of his fingers // fractured his spine
Lost to the lawyers // the snake oil dealers
The politicians // the faux faith healers
There was a Black Maria // outside the pit canteen
Coppers with batons // everywhere to be seen
The workers coming in // heads bowed behind grills
The pickets were baying // someone’s gonna be killed
I remember when coal was king mi boys
I remember when coal was king
I remember when coal was king
I remember when coal was king (BREAK)
They brought King Arthur // down onto to his knees
The MI5 // and the Bourgeoisie
From the ‘rule of the mob’ // said you would be freed
With batons and sticks // closed all the collieries
She spat out those words // most famously
There’s ‘no such thing // as society’
The markets dictate // they self regulate
Pin striped robbers // it’s hard not to hate
CHORUS
(SPOKEN) Granddaddy’s pension’s // got frittered away
The Bankers needed summat // for retirement day
Summat got broken // when they closed down the mine
Broke Granddaddy’s spirit // weakened all of our spines CHORUS x 2
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14. |
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Cob a Coalin (trad, arr Reid)
The first to come in is a miner you see
With his pick and his shovel all ready to dig
He digs it and picks it and then it does fall
And that is the way that we gather cob coal
We come a cob a coalin, cob a coalin, cob a coalin,
We come a cob a coalin for bonfire night
Waiting for the cage to earn my wage
the coal has blackened the children’s hair
The mine hot and muddy, thank God for my Dudley
Give in motty tags and hang up your bags
We come a cob a coalin, cob a coalin, cob a coalin,
We come a cob a coalin for bonfire night
Down the pit you can’t tell if it’s day or night
Miners start digging with no end in sight
Little yellow bird we keep you alive
So that me and friends can all survive
We come a cob a coalin, cob a coalin, cob a coalin,
We come a cob a coalin for bonfire night
Plant the miner underground like a flower of coal
Pickaxing away, thinking of holidays
Lonely, old and very cold,
All of this just for a lump of coal
We come a cob a coalin, cob a coalin, cob a coalin,
We come a cob a coalin for bonfire night
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The coal industry was once a main employer in the Nottinghamshire region.
The heritage of mining and mining language – pit talk – are essential elements of the culture of the East Midlands.
It also has a long and proud association with literature and the arts. Mining still forms part of living memory, the miners’ strike of 1984-1985 has not been forgotten locally, but with the passing of the years this heritage is in danger of being lost.
Natalie Braber and David Amos had been working for several years on the preservation of the mining heritage and language, when in the summer of 2017 Nottingham Trent University put out a call for grants as part of their ‘Global Heritage’ research scheme. This successful bid resulted in this project, which aimed to provide a literary and musical celebration of the mining and pit talk heritage.
The project engaged new audiences, using existing pit poetry, song and literature, and encouraged new creative writing, poetry and songwriting related to the industry. We organised workshops and collaborated with musicians. Looking through the workshop results we found four main themes: camaraderie, working conditions and dangers of working in the mine, strikes, and the closure of the mines. Many of the people taking part in the workshops had not previously engaged with mining heritage, and some were aspiring writers, while others were more experienced. Nevertheless, the results of these workshops are outstanding.
This work was published in a book with accompanying CD, which celebrate our writers’ and musicians’ achievements. Our thanks go to all the writers, musicians and poets involved in the workshops.
And last but not least, we would also like to thank: Nottingham Trent University for funding this project; Kathleen Bartholomew, who ran the poetry workshops; Mike Wareham who conducted the creative writing workshops; Nottingham Writers’ Studio who hosted the workshops; Jennifer Reid; Heymann Primary School; Paper Stone who recorded the music; Paul Fillingham who helped putting the book and CD together and Pyramid Press who printed the book.
'SINGING THE SEAM' is the companion CD to Songs and Rhymes from the Mines and features fourteen tracks by folk artists from the East Midlands region:
Artists:
Daniel Wright is lead singer of the Nottingham’s most successful country band, The Most Ugly Child. Born and bred in a North Nottinghamshire mining community, his song material is heavily influenced by stories of the pits and local mining folklore. Dan is also a qualified sound engineer and supports local artists in developing their musical careers.
Bill Kerry III plays and sings with Americana/Folk band Lawrence County. He is also a solo artist performing original material. Bill was born in a harsh mining town on the Derby/Nottingham border in the UK. His songs are inspired by the realities of life and the desperate mining landscape of the Midlands.
Martin Carey is the son of a 1950's immigrant from the West of Ireland. He was brought up in the Nottinghamshire mining village of Annesley. He is lead singer, songwriter and instrumentalist with local folk band King of Rome and folk trio Borderland Folk.
Terry Faulkner worked down the mines from the age of 15, retiring after a mining accident in 1986. He’s been singing in folk bands since he was a lad, and now performs as an acapella singer/Bodhran player and has an extensive repertoire of folk songs with an Irish influence. He sings with Borderland Folk
Al Rate - AKA ‘Misk Hills Mountain Rambler III’ was brought up in a mining village. He is a front-man with Americana/Folk band Lawrence County. As a solo artist he is a musical storyteller. He draws on local folklore, to weave intricate tales from the depths of the woods & extinct mines of Nottinghamshire (Lawrence County).
John H Stafford worked at Annesley Colliery from the age of 15. He was a ganger for 2 years, then at the Coal Face and Development before finally becoming Deputy. After that John went to Australia in 1988 to work in the mines, returning to Nottinghamshire pits in 2002, before retiring through ill health at 55 years. More recently he has returned to his childhood pastime of writing poems, songs and short stories, as well as a couple of novels.
Jennifer Reid is a performer of 19th century Industrial Revolution broadside ballads and Lancashire dialect work songs. After volunteering at Chetham’s Library and the Working Class Movement Library, Jennifer completed an Advanced Diploma in Local History at Oxford University.
Writing credits:
1. My Pony (Daniel Wright)
2. The Greatest Loscoe Miner (Roger Kerry)
3. Welfare Hall (Martin John Carey)
4. Dance of the Miner (Alan J Taylor)
5. School Days Over (Ewan McColl)
6. Sons & Lovers (Roger Kerry/DH Lawrence)
7. Annesley Headstocks (Martin John Carey)
8. The Deaths of Child Miners (Roger Kerry)
9. Working Man (Rita Macneil)
10. Tiny Giant (Martin John Carey)
11. Where You Goin’ When Ormonde Shuts (Roger Kerry/Owen Watson)
12. Mine Eyes (John Stafford)
13. When Coal Was King (Alan J Taylor)
14. Cob a Coalin (Trad/children of Heymann Primary School)
