A folk song which chronicles the demise of the coal industry in the UK 1984-1985.
Cabinet papers released in 2014 - revealed that Thatcher had a 'hit list' of mines, as suggested by Arthur Scargill at the time ... Lest we forget! There was a suggestion in January 2014, that a public holiday in the UK should be named after Margaret Thatcher ... This song is to remind us all why that would be a travesty!
lyrics
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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