Miners Strike in Cape Breton & Song

From Len Wallace, 13 January 2000

Members of District 26, UMWA in Cape Breton Nova Scotia are on a wildcat strike. They are fighting against the closure of the Prince Mine, coal mine owned by Devco.

Ten miners are currently in the mine, keeping it safe from flooding, etc. Latest news is that some are on hunger strike. The federal government refuses to move. The RCMP is being brought in.

This song is for the striking miners.

Chorus:

Four miles down where the sun don't shine There's ten brave miners hunkered in a mine Fighting off the hunger, fighting 'gainst time, Fighting for the men above walking the line.

A mean wind blows these January days 'Cause the Prince Mine's closing if the boss gets his way. It's whipping on the pickets, the men of the mine. It's a hard whipping wind for families on the line.

There's no place to go if they shut the place down. There's no work above, no job to be found. The only chance goin' is the heart of the coal. Either hell in the mine or hell on the dole.

Chorus:

But four miles down where the sun don't shine There's ten lone miners hunkered in a mine Fighting off the hunger, fighting 'gainst time, Fighting for the men above walking the line.

The suits in the office spend all their days Counting up the dollars from the profits they made off the backs of the pit men down in the hole slaving all their days just digging the coal.

Chorus:

But four miles down where the sun don't shine There's ten lone miners hunkered in a mine Fighting off the hunger, fighting 'gainst time, Fighting for the men above walking the line.

Now, they're fighting for a pension, fighting for a wage. Everyday it's a struggle just to fight down your rage fighting 'gainst the odds, fighting off the lies, fighting for a future and fighting for their lives.

Now, there's 10 brave men hunkered in a mine Fighting for the jobs for the strikers on the line. They're down in the deeps for the ones they love. For their brothers, for themselves and their families up above.

The fax for Everett, the Cape Breton CLC rep dealing with the miners is: (902) 562-8075 phone number is: (902) 564-6351

Len Wallace
Email: lwallace@mnsi.net
(519) 973-3981