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GEST Songs Of Newfoundland And Labrador
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I remember the day the explosion ripped the mine,
There were twenty-five miners working to make their time;
They had worked all night at the coal-face trying to earn their bread,
When a rumble in the earth left each one filled with dread.
They were standing at the bottom just waiting to catch the trip,
They were laughing and joking and gripping their pails in their grip;
When a rumble in the earth stopped their laughter,
Sending fear into their bones.
And the first thought that they had was: "Dear God, get me home."
The rumble got stronger and then it started to roar,
The twenty-five miners fell on their face to the floor;
They heard the roaring get stronger as it moved up from the deep,
And twenty-five widows would stand at the pit and weep.
The miners lay on their face in a cold dark fear,
And some of them cried as the roaring began to get near;
The timbers started to crumble, the beams in the roof gave way,
And twenty-five miners lay dead beneath the clay.
The widows and children were gathering around the mine,
Sending out words they hoped would come back with a sign;
Women held their children near them against this sudden blow,
And twenty-five humans lay dead in the earth below.
Yes, I remember the day the explosion ripped the mine,
My father and my brother were down there making their time;
And I swore that day to all living that I would never work at coal,
Even if I lived to be ninety-nine years old.
I remember the day the explosion ripped our home...
Ripped our home!