The Last Northumbrian Coal Mine
Six hundred years of sweat and toil
In that deep and dark abyss
The entrepreneur has spoken
Blown a tasteless goodbye kiss
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Two hundred men and boys
Crushed and gassed and drowned
New Hartley, 1862
Beneath that cold, cold ground
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At Burradon, 1860
Seventy six were burnt and maimed
They were only slaves and chattels
No need to be ashamed
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No sick pay, no such benefit
No mercy from the rich
Like the Paddies in the famine
Left to die within that ditch |
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Families torn asunder
Communities destroyed
Where the hell was the compassion?
The obligation’s null and void
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We’ll not forget you Thatcher
And your heartless decimation
Your ultimate achievement
A bitter, divided nation
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Northern coal helped build this country
While the Irish laid the rails
Betrayal comes easier than honour
All that’s left are old men’s tales
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