See that bairn upon the bus? Her father fell at Loos
Canny lad and one of us - and when we heard the news
Not a single eye was dry - he worked at Usworth Pit
When they send young men to die - they only want the fit
“Wad thou gan?” the voices rang - down every terraced street
“Aye Ah’ll gan” the pitmen sang - and soon the marching feet
Swapped the heaps of Durham pits - for coalfields out in France
Pitscape for a savage blitz - where fate was ruled by chance
Chorus:
Wad thou gan? Wad thou gan?
Wad thou gan and join the gang?
Wad thou gan lad ower there and dee yer bit?
Wad thou gan? Wad thou gan?
Why aye Ah’ll bloody gan
An’ Ah’ll gan an’ swap adventure for the pit
Richard Drummond volunteered - along with all his mates
Some of them just disappeared - sad victims of the the Fates
Richard died in Charing Cross - they brought home by train
Widow left to mourn her loss - and live her life in pain
Chorus:
That bairn’s life had barely stirred - when her young father died
All she knew was what she heard - folks spoke of him with pride
Richard Drummond 22 - named on Remembrance Day
Harry, George & Frankie too - in foreign mining clay
Chorus:
Wad thou gan? - Why Aye Ah’ll gan - the ghostly voices sound
Members of a mining clan - that lie in mining ground
Washington remembers well - the sons of long times past
Died in the war and lived in hell - and went when they were asked
Chorus:
