FAREWELL JOHNNY MINER

Johnny Miner you were born
Never to see the rising dawn
Now its time that you were gone
Farewell Johnny Miner

You battled with the sliding scale
With blackened lungs and faces pale
Now your body's up for sale
Farewell Johnny Miner

They promise you the earth sometimes
To get coal from their stinking mines
Now the justice for their crimes
Is farewell Johnny Miner

So farewell John, don't take it hard
Unemployment isn't bad
They'll treat you well in the knackers yard
Farewell Johnny Miner

Farewell Durham, Yorkshire too
Nottingham, the same to you
Scotland, South Wales, say adieu
Farewell Johnny Miner

(Ed Pickford)


THE LADS OF WEAR AND TYNE

Still round the banners we'll stand
In love and truth combine
And children yet unborn shall sing
The Lads of Wear and Tyne

Brave Hepburn and our delegates
Like rays of virtue shine
Their fame shall long be echoed
Round the planks of Wear and Tyne

On Boldon fell a flag shall wave
Like victory's wreaths entwine
That peace shall be the motto still
With lads of Wear and Tyne

We envy not the rich and great
Whose dazzling greatness shine
While we the hardy sons of toil
Can labour in the mine

Our happy wives and children now
All former cares resign
And sing with joyful mirth and glee
The Lads of Wear and Tyne

(Trad. arr. The Whisky Priests)