Come all of you colliers who work in the mine
From England to Scotland, from Tees up to Tyne
I’ll sing you the song of the pound a week rise
And the men who were fooled by the government lies.
Chorus:
So it’s down you go, down below Jack
Where you never see the skies
And you’re working in you’re dungeon
For you’re pound a week rise.
In nineteen and sixty, a long time ago
The Mineworker’s leaders to Lord Robens did go
Saying, “We work very hard, every day we risk our lives
We ask you here and now for a pound a week rise.”
Chorus:
Then up spoke Lord Robens and made this decree
Saying, “When the output rises, then I’ll agree
To raise up your wages, give to you fair pay
I was once a miner’s man myself in my day.”
Chorus:
The miners they went homeward and worked hard and well
With their lungs filled with coal dust in the bosom of hell
The output rose fifteen per cent and eighteen and more
Till after two years had gone it rose above a score.
Chorus:
The Mineworkers leaders went for their hard-won prize
To ask Lord Robens for their pound a week rise
But Robens wouldn’t give a pound - he wouldn’t give ten bob
He gave them seven and six and said, “ Get back to your job.”
Chorus:
Come all of you colliers and heed what I say
Don’t believe Lord Robens when he says he’ll give fair pay
He’ll tell you to work hard and make the output rise
But you’ll get “pie in the sky” instead of a one pound rise.
