Lyrics

From the dark caverns of a feudalistic coal mine
twenty-six men brought light;

Twenty-six beams of light
deserve justice to ensure
men never again endure
such dark, cold nights

Twenty-six beams of light
will keep our conscience true
Twenty-six beams of light
will guide the wiser through

Chorus:
We suck this coal dust down all day
We dig and drill and pull it away
Risking our lives to earn our pay
Falling rock makes a coal miner pray

When promised work for 15 years
what man will endure brings sorrowful tears
Third world conditions under our nose
Death of twenty-six men to see this mine close
Death of twenty-six men to see this mine close

It was not in protest, but in death
robbed of their right to live
Gases stole their final breath
their chance to love and give

Steel arch and screen to hold the top
but the swell of the floor you cannot stop
When you’re two miles down and you know there’s gas
You wonder if your breath will last

It seeps and streams from the walls
Look out boys its another rock fall
At 4 a.m. it’s a deathly chill
As you shake with fear and tip your swill

Chorus:
We suck this coal dust down all day
We dig and drill and pull it away
Risking our lives to earn our pay
Falling rock makes a coal miner pray

Thanks to Margaret Walsh for bringing this song to my attention, and to Andrew Walsh for providing the lyrics.