Pound a Week Rise

Come on all you colliers who work down the mine
From Scotland to South Wales from Teesdale to Tyne
I'll sing you a song of the pound a week rise
And the men who were fooled by the government's lies

In 19 and 60 a few years ago
The mineworkers' leaders to Lord Robbins did go
Saying "We work very hard, every day we risk our lives
And we ask you here and now for a pound a week rise"

And it's down you go
Down below, Jack
Where you never see the skies
And you're working in a dungeon
For your pound a week rise

Well up spoke Lord Robbins and he made this decree
"When the out-put rises, then with you I will agree
I'll raise up all your wages, and give you fair pay
For I was once a miner and I worked hard in my day"

And it's down you go
Down below, Jack
Where you never see the skies
And you're working in a dungeon
For your pound a week rise

The miners they went home, they worked hard and well
Their lungs filled with coal dust in the bosom of hell
The out-put rose by fifteen, eighteen percent and more
And when two years had passed and gone it rose above a score

The miners they went home, to get their hard-earned prize
They went to ask Lord Robbins for their pound a week rise
Robbins wouldn't give a pound he wouldn't give ten bob
He gave them seven and six and said "Now get back to your jobs!"

And it's down you go
Down below, Jack
Where you never see the skies
And you're working in a dungeon
For your pound a week rise

So come on all you colliers, take heed to what I say
Don't believe Lord Robbins when he said he'll give fair pay
He'll tell you to work hard and make the output rise
You'll get pie in the sky instead of a one pound rise

And it's down you go
Down below, Jack
Where you never see the skies
And you're working in a dungeon
For your pound a week rise

It's down you go
Down below, Jack
Where you never see the skies
And you're working in a dungeon
For your pound a week rise