Blackleg Miner

from Of Love and Sailors by Roary Skaista

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about

Originally from Northumberland, probably during the 19th century, this song illustrates the hatred felt towards strike breakers, or "blacklegs". It has since then often been sung by workers and activists in support of strikes. Artists who have performed the song include Steeleye Span, Louis Killen, Richard Thompson, Ewan MacColl and Jon Boden. There is some argument over whether it should be sung fast or slow, even in Forest School Camps where I learnt it, so I've decided to be influenced by several artists and compromise on speed as you'll hear.

lyrics

LYRICS:

It's in the evening after dark,
That the blackleg miner goes to work,
In his moleskin pants and dirty shirt,
There goes the blackleg miner.

Well he takes his picks and down he goes'
To hew the coal that lies below,
There's not a woman in this town row
Who'd look at the blackleg miner.

Oh, Delaval is a terrible place,
They rub wet clay in the blackleg's face,
Around the pits they run a foot race,
To catch the blackleg miner.

And don't go near the Seghill mine,
Across the top they've stretched a line,
To catch the throat and break the spine
Of the dirty blackleg miner.

Well they grab his picks and his duds as well,
And they hurl them down the pit of hell.
So off you go, and fare thee well,
You dirty blackleg miner.

It's in the evening after dark,
That the blackleg miner goes to work,
In his moleskin pants and dirty shirt,
There goes the blackleg miner.

So join the union while you may.
Don't wait until your dying day,
For that may not be far away,
You dirty blackleg miner.

credits

from Of Love and Sailors, released August 1, 2015
Traditional

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Roary Skaista UK

Roary Skaista is a queer folk musician based in Oxford, performing traditional folk songs as well as their own material on the themes of love, nature and diversity.

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