Chumbawamba - Colliers March lyrics
[Chumbawamba - Colliers March lyrics]
The summer was over the season unkind
In harvest a snow, how uncommon to find
The times were oppressive and
Well be it known
That hunger will stronger starve
Fences break down
'Twas then from themselves the
Black gentry stepped out
With bludgeons determined to stir up a rout
The prince of the party
Who revelled from home
Was a terrible fellow and called Irish Thom
He brandished his bludgeon
With dexterous skill
And close to his elbow was placed Barley Will
There instantly followed a numerous train
As cheerful as bold Robin Hood's merry men
Sworn to remedy a capital fault:
Bring down the exorbitant price of the malt
From Dudley to Walsall they trip-ped along
And Hampton was truly alarmed at the throng
Women and children wherever they go
Shouting out 'Oh the brave Dudley boys! Oh!'
With nailers and spinners
The cavalcade joined
The markets to lower their flattering design
Six days out of seven poor nailing boys get
Little else at their meals
But potatoes to eat
For bread hard they labour
Good things never carve
And swore 'twere as well to
Be hanged as to starve
Such are the feelings in every land
Nothing necessities call can withstand
And riots are certain to sadden the year
When six penny loaves are three
Pound as up here
In harvest a snow, how uncommon to find
The times were oppressive and
Well be it known
That hunger will stronger starve
Fences break down
'Twas then from themselves the
Black gentry stepped out
With bludgeons determined to stir up a rout
The prince of the party
Who revelled from home
Was a terrible fellow and called Irish Thom
He brandished his bludgeon
With dexterous skill
And close to his elbow was placed Barley Will
There instantly followed a numerous train
As cheerful as bold Robin Hood's merry men
Sworn to remedy a capital fault:
Bring down the exorbitant price of the malt
From Dudley to Walsall they trip-ped along
And Hampton was truly alarmed at the throng
Women and children wherever they go
Shouting out 'Oh the brave Dudley boys! Oh!'
With nailers and spinners
The cavalcade joined
The markets to lower their flattering design
Six days out of seven poor nailing boys get
Little else at their meals
But potatoes to eat
For bread hard they labour
Good things never carve
And swore 'twere as well to
Be hanged as to starve
Such are the feelings in every land
Nothing necessities call can withstand
And riots are certain to sadden the year
When six penny loaves are three
Pound as up here