Written by Patrick J. Lynch, Glace Bay, May 5, 1910
1st verse Sung by Bob Stewart, Miner from Glace Bay, recorded by George Korson February 1, 1940 at UMWA convention, Columbus, Ohio.
Sung to the tune of the Wearing of the Green
The rest of the verses sung by Nipper MacLeod, New Waterford, member, Men of the Deeps.
It is time for the coal miners for to rise up on their feet, And crush the opposition wherever they will meet; Too long the capitalist party has kept the miners down, With their mansions full and plenty, And the miners they do frown.
Through years past the coal companies have trodden down the poor, But now comes the crisis, the miners’ votes galore; The capitalists do shudder, they now must turn aside, To the miner’s class in power, and may ever we abide.
Tom Lewis, a name we cherish; a brilliant star today, And the deeds he has accomplished with the U.M.W.A. The coal barons they do tremble before this mighty man. An American true and humble, and he is doing all he can.
For the union he is fitting to help the miner boys along, And the Upper Ten are grunting and this indeed is wrong; For to give a little portion of what they have in store, For to keep us from starvation, and to have a little more.
And to keep the home together at the evening of the day, For to part with home is bitter before going to the clay; How many a home was broken in the days that have gone by, And everything forsaken; but now we can defy.
And how often have we spoken about the miners of this land Crushed by heavy burdens and that on every hand, They have no voice whatever; the miners were kept down With the corporation in power; poor subjects for a crown.
Fathers, husbands, son and brothers they have driven from their home, By their unfair, unjust methods in this little Glace Bay town; And their shame they may try to flaunt, for the poor slaves pay them well. And by their filthy money they have sent their souls to hell.
But the day is fast acoming when the miners will be free, And the U.M.W. colors flying on the plains for all to see, And the name of E.S. McCollough we never will forget; A man who fights for freedom, and he fights for honor yet.
And when the strike is over, we’ll march in grand array, And we’ll ring ten thousand cheers fir the UMWA. And the scab will go under like the man before the gun, And the miners they will flourish when the dreary strike is WON.
P.J. LYNCH
5 MAY, 1910 UMWJ. PAGE 6.
By Bob Stewart & Nipper MacLeod
BOB STEWART – VOCALS, NIPPER MACLEOD – VOCALS
About Nipper MacLeod
Former coal miner, Nipper MacLeod, hails from New Waterford and is a lead singer with the Men of the Deeps coal miners’ choir. He plays guitar and is known for his many mining and Cape Breton songs. He performs regularly at house parties, concerts and clubs in Cape Breton Island.
Resources
The Ballad of Slim McInnis // The Ballad of Slim McInnis - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
The Ballad of Slim McInnis // The Ballad of Slim McInnis - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Doscomocracy // Doscomocracy - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Trampin’ Down the Highway // Trampin’ Down the Highway - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Quaint Harbour // Quaint Harbour - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Blackheart’s of the Company // Blackheart’s of the Company - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Stand the Gaff // Stand the Gaff - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Michael’s Tune // Michael’s Tune - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Arise Ye Nova Scotia Slaves // Arise Ye Nova Scotia Slaves - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Whatever It Takes // Whatever It Takes - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
The Wearing of the Red // The Wearing of the Red - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Down at Sydney Steel // Sydney Steel - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Stronger then Steel // Stronger then Steel - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Steel Winds // Steel Winds - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
A Cape Breton Lament // A Cape Breton Lament - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
An Seann Tigh Sgoil // An Seann Tigh Sgoil - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Friday Evening // Ian MacDougall - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
The Voice of the Worker // The Voice of the Worker - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Daughters Awake // Daughters Awake - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Cape Breton Miner and Besco // Cape Breton Miner and Besco - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Miner’s Wife // Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Steel Workers Lament // Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest