My understanding is that it's a love song inspired by the miners' strike in Britain in 1984, and about men having to sacrifice their families' home comforts to fight a point of principle - ultimately because of the love they had for their families , they were fighting to protect their futures. The 'hands of steel and heart of stone' lyric is a direct reference to Ian McGregor, who was a fomer Chairman of British Steel then brought to the National Coal Board to tackle the National Union of Mineworkers, who were perceived to be militants. The strike tore families and communities apart and probably led to lots of relationships breaking up, which is the theme of the song.
My understanding is that it's a love song inspired by the miners' strike in Britain in 1984, and about men having to sacrifice their families' home comforts to fight a point of principle - ultimately because of the love they had for their families , they were fighting to protect their futures. The 'hands of steel and heart of stone' lyric is a direct reference to Ian McGregor, who was a fomer Chairman of British Steel then brought to the National Coal Board to tackle the National Union of Mineworkers, who were perceived to be militants. The strike tore families and communities apart and probably led to lots of relationships breaking up, which is the theme of the song.