the phrase "they sold us down the river" was first used by scargill (i think?) in the 80s to describe the attitudes to the miners and subsequently the unions.
also "in the street men stand in lines" is dual meaning, it refers to the lines of unemployed and the dole ques but also the lines of miners and workers who protested against pit closures, union bans etc.
i also think the song talks a bit about the labour movement in general..."we've been working for a long time/ we've been fighting for a way" could refer to the genuine labour socialists and trade unionists who have been fighting since way before the pit closures for a way to save and help the workers.
the phrase "they sold us down the river" was first used by scargill (i think?) in the 80s to describe the attitudes to the miners and subsequently the unions. also "in the street men stand in lines" is dual meaning, it refers to the lines of unemployed and the dole ques but also the lines of miners and workers who protested against pit closures, union bans etc.
i also think the song talks a bit about the labour movement in general..."we've been working for a long time/ we've been fighting for a way" could refer to the genuine labour socialists and trade unionists who have been fighting since way before the pit closures for a way to save and help the workers.
love this song =]