A Pound a Week Rise

Come all of you colliers that work down the mine

From Scotland to South Wales, from Teesdale to Tyne

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

And the men who were fooled by the Government's lies

And it's down you go, down below, Jack

Where you never see the skies

And you're working in a dingeon

For a pound a week rise

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"

Then up spoke Lord Robens, and he made this decree

"When the output rises then with you I will agree

To raise up all your wages, to give to you fair pay

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

So the miners they went home, they worked hard and well

With lungs full of coaldust in the bosom of hell

The output rose by sixteen, eighteen per cent and more

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

Then the miners they went to get their hard-won prize

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 job"

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

And don't believe Lord Robens when he says he'll give fair pay

For he'll tell you to work hard, to make the output rise

You'll get Pie in the Sky instead of a one pound rise