Miner's Lifeguard
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A traditional American trade union song. The setting is an 1891 hymn tune by Charles Davis Tillman called "Life is Like a Mountain Railway",[1] but the author of the lyrics is unknown.[2]
The song has been reworked by numerous famous folk artists throughout the years, including Dick Gaughan who repopularized it on his 1986 album True and Bold. In his song archive, he notes that some of the lyrics were changed to make them more specific to the NUM Strike of 1984-85.[3]
The Longest Johns sang it with El Pony Pisador both during their joint livestream in August 2018 and as a standalone video release on YouTube. An updated version was also included on The Longest Pony, released 21 March 2023.
Lyrics
These lyrics are based on the version from the Longest Pony EP. The original lyrics can be found here.
A miner's life is like a sailor's
Board a ship and cross the waves
Every day his life's in danger
Still he ventures being brave
Watch those rocks, they're falling daily
Careless miners always fail
Keep your hand upon your wages
And your eye upon the scale
{Chorus}
Union miners, stand together
Do not heed the owner's tale
Keep your hand upon your wages
And your eye upon the scale
You've been docked and docked again, boys
You've been loading two for one
What have you to show for working
Since your mining day is done?
Worn-out boots and worn-out miners
Lungs of stone and children pale
Keep your hand upon your wages
And your eye upon the scale
{Chorus}
In conclusion, bear in memory
Keep this password in your mind
Workers' strength cannot be broken
When in union we combine
Stand up tall and stand together
Victory shall for you prevail
Keep your hand upon your wages
And your eye upon the scale
{Chorus}
Recordings
Streaming/Purchase
YouTube Videos
Gig Videos
- El Pony Pisador, Kimber's Men & TLJ at Yarmouth, 2017
- Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, UK (1 Feb 2025) (with El Pony Pisador)
- Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, UK (2 Feb 2025) (with El Pony Pisador)
- O2 Academy2, Liverpool, UK (3 Feb 2025) (with El Pony Pisador)
Full Band Streams
Chill Streams
- JD & Andy Chilltime - 13/01/2020
- JD & Andy Chilltime - 27/01/2020
- Welcome to Chillville! Population: Andy - 01/05/2020
- Welcome to Chillville. Drive safe! Playing mostly folk music... - 15/05/2020
- (bangs table) music music music music! - 11/09/2020
- It's time for mostly folk music with Andy! - 6/11/2020
- Late Night Super Folk Music Time! - 22/11/2020
- It's folk music time! New banjo! - 11/12/2020