Springhill Mine Disaster

Words & Music:

Luke Kelly

 

       Am      G           Am   G

In the town of Springhill, Nova Scotia,

Am          C           D          Em

Down in the dark of the Cumberland Mines.

Am           D            G      Em

There's blood on the coal and the miners lie

       Am         G         Am      G

In the roads that never saw sun nor sky;

       Am         G         Am  G   E

In the roads that never saw sun nor sky.

 

In the town of Springhill, you don't sleep easy,

Often the earth will tremble and roll.

When the earth gets restless, miners die.

Bone and blood are the price of coal;

Bone and blood are the price of coal.

 

In the town of Springhill, Nova Scotia,

Late in the year of '58.

The day still comes & the sun still shines,

But it's dark as a grave in the Cumberland Mines,

Dark as a grave in the Cumberland Mines.

 

Down in the coal face, miners working;

Listen to the rumble of the cutter's blade.

The rumble of the earth as the walls caved 'round

There were living and the dead men two miles down,

Living and the dead men two miles down.

 

Five days passed and the lamps gave out,

Caleb Rushton, he up and said,

"There's no more water nor light nor bread,

So we'll live on songs and hope instead,

Live on songs and hope instead."

 

Eight days passed and some were rescued,

Leaving the dead to lie alone.

Throughout their lives they dug their graves,

Two miles of earth for a marking stone,

Two miles of earth for a marking stone.