Pound a Week Rise

Come all of you colliers who work down the mine

From Scotland to South Wales, from Teesdale to Tyne

I'll sing you a song of the pound a week rise

And the men who were filled by the government's lies

In nineteen and sixty, a few years ago

The mineworkers' leaders, to Lord Robens did go

Saying we work very hard, every day we risk our lives

And we ask you here and now for a pound a week rise

And it's down you go, down below Jack

Where you never see the skies

And you're working in a dungeon

For your pound a week rise

Well up spoke Lord Robens and he made this decree

When the output rises then with you I will agree

I'll raise up all your wages and give you fair pay

For I was once a miner and I worked hard in my day

And it's down you go, down below Jack

Where you never see the skies

And you're working in a dungeon

For your pound a week rise

The miners, they went home, they worked hard and well

Their lungs filled with coal dust in the bosom of hell

The output rose by fifteen, eighteen per cent and more

And when two years had passed ad gone, it rose above a score

The miners, they went home to get their hard-earned prize

They went to ask Lord Robens for their pound a week rise

Robens wouldn't give  a pound, he wouldn't give ten bob

He gave them seven and six and said get back to your jobs

And it's down you go, down below Jack

Where you never see the skies

And you're working in a dungeon

For your pound a week rise

So come all of you colliers, take heed what I say

Don't believe Lord Robens when he said he'll give fair pay

He'll tell you to work hard and make the output rise

You'll get pie in the sky instead of a one pound rise

And it's down you go, down below Jack

Where you never see the sky

And you're working in a dungeon

For your pound a week rise

It's down you go, down below Jack

Where you never see the skies

And you're working in a dungeon

For your pound a week rise