This is a fairly straight-forward song. It is clearly a reference to the 1934 Gresford coal mine disaster http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gresford_disaster In fact, many of the lines were directly taken from a song that was written soon after the disaster.
The Gresford Disaster
(Lyrics: "Anonymous")....
You've heard of the Gresford Disaster,
Of the terrible price that was paid;
Two hundred and sixty-four colliers were lost,
And three men of the rescue brigade.
It occurred in the month of September
At three in the morning the pit
Was racked by a violent explosion
In the Dennis where gas lay so thick.
Now the gas in the Dennis deep section
Was packed there like snow in a drift,
And many a man had to leave the coal-face
Before he had worked out his shift.
Now a fortnight before the explosion,
To the shotfirer Tomlinson cried,
"If you fire that shot we'll be all blown to hell!"
And no one can say that he lied.
Now the fireman's reports they are missing
The records of forty-two days;
The collier manager had them destroyed
To cover his criminal ways.
Down there in the dark they are lying.
They died for nine shillings a day;
They have worked out their shift and now they must lie
In the darkness until Judgement Day.
Now the Lord Mayor of London's collecting
To help out the children and wives;
The owners have sent some white lilies
To pay for the poor colliers' lives.
Farewell, all our dear wives and our children
Farewell, all our comrades as well,
Don't send your sons down the dark dreary mine
They'll be doomed like the sinners in hell.
This is a fairly straight-forward song. It is clearly a reference to the 1934 Gresford coal mine disaster http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gresford_disaster In fact, many of the lines were directly taken from a song that was written soon after the disaster.
The Gresford Disaster
(Lyrics: "Anonymous").... You've heard of the Gresford Disaster, Of the terrible price that was paid; Two hundred and sixty-four colliers were lost, And three men of the rescue brigade. It occurred in the month of September At three in the morning the pit Was racked by a violent explosion In the Dennis where gas lay so thick. Now the gas in the Dennis deep section Was packed there like snow in a drift, And many a man had to leave the coal-face Before he had worked out his shift. Now a fortnight before the explosion, To the shotfirer Tomlinson cried, "If you fire that shot we'll be all blown to hell!" And no one can say that he lied. Now the fireman's reports they are missing The records of forty-two days; The collier manager had them destroyed To cover his criminal ways. Down there in the dark they are lying. They died for nine shillings a day; They have worked out their shift and now they must lie In the darkness until Judgement Day. Now the Lord Mayor of London's collecting To help out the children and wives; The owners have sent some white lilies To pay for the poor colliers' lives. Farewell, all our dear wives and our children Farewell, all our comrades as well, Don't send your sons down the dark dreary mine They'll be doomed like the sinners in hell.