I remember being on strike in Dublin for better wages in the bookies and the miners in Wales and Scotland stood by us and helped with payments God bless you all I'm a pensioner now and have never forgotten the kindness shown to us ❤
My Father in law was 16 when he went underground in Wales..those were hard times..He died in South Africa with lung problems..I find this song sad but a great tribute to all those men..love it Margaret Evans South Africa
I am a daughter of a coal miner who worked underground for 24 years.until it closed,then worked a cotton mill. Lost him at the age of 54 very sad day ,never forgotten best dad in the world. He worked at Reedley pit in Lancashire,James Walsh xx
My Dad was in the RAF during the war but no work was available in Ireland afterwards so he had to go to Doncaster and down the mines to get work. Mum fell pregnant but Dad missed the birth but when he came home after 2 years he said he's never go down the mines again. Hats off to the hardest job in the world. Dad died at 97 a couple of years back and this song always reminds me of the things he said. Lovely song
An ex miner, i have the greatest respect for all the miners who fought for their jobs back in the eighties. Love this song, brings a lump to my throat & goosepimples everytime i hear this.
Problem was the miners were too ignorant to fight against their capitalist exploiters. They were divided. I knew lots-of miners during the strike of 1984. I was always lead believed they were the salt of the earth. How wrong I was, most of them were right wing racist scum. Shocked me. Most of them hate working class asylum seekers etc. If I had have known the truth I would never have donated money to the striking miners
I’m the wife of Joe grafton turner machinist of west cornforth , a strong union man and working man all his life I’m his proud wife of 52 yrs rest in peace Joe xxx
My dad died on the job as a truck driver at 60 years old… half a year from his planned retirement. I was bitter for years but I’ve realized now that he’s my hero. I hope I can have his strength of will to show my son what a working man can achieve in his lifetime.
great song respect to all miners my father was a miner so was his brother but unfortunately he was involved in a fatal accident whilst underground this song brings back many sad days but very proud that my father and uncle were miners R.I.P. my dear dad one day we will be together this song is a tribute to all miners
My father, two grandfathers, and two uncles all died due to illness from working as miners in the Durham coalfields.I only heard this song a couple weeks ago and it says everything about these hard working men.My father always said he would never let me go down the pit as it was a terrible way to earn a living.Let us remember those men who still toil underground in dangerous and filthy conditions. May God keep them safe
My Grandad was a miner his name was Willie Cullen he came from Leitrim he married a Kilkenny lady and ended up in the Castlecomer Comer coal mines County Kilkenny a true gentleman.💚
I'm the son of a coal miner that survived three cave-ins with coal dust on his lungs to the day he died. One uncle was a pony driver. Another was a blaster that died of black lung. I'msso proud and grateful for them. They always put food on the table, kept a roof over our heads, kept us safe, gave morals and principles. My dad got me out of Penn before I got old enough to go to the breaker.
Problem was the miners were too ignorant to fight against their capitalist exploiters. They were divided. I knew lots-of miners during the strike of 1984. I was always lead believed they were the salt of the earth. How wrong I was, most of them were right wing racist scum. Shocked me. Most of them hate working class asylum seekers etc. If I had have known the truth I would never have donated money to the striking miners
I am married to a wonderful man who worked underground as a hard rock uranium miner in Canada. He had 20 tons of rock collapse on him and his mates . They didn't get to them for 12 hours. Sadly my husband was the only one brought out alive. I thank the good Lord he is still here for me to love.
i live in a town where there was a mining disaster, just a blue plaque on the ground, no service held nothing. shame on the town council, god bless you and your family.
It's wonderful to know that a song from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada has reached people all over the world. The late Rita MacNeil wrote this song and she will always be beloved on our island. Thanks you for keeping her music alive. kathleen Boutilier
@@kathleenshaw1226 Hi Kathleen, I also was at one of her concerts in Vancouver, Do you remember the name of the building she held it in? It was quite well known and is on the tip of my tongue but won't come out. Did she sing "Bring it on home" when you were there?
My grandfather was a pit-sinker. His job was to supervise the sinking of the shaft, erect the winding gear, dig out the main road and instal pumps and ventilation. Once the mine was producing coal the local traders put their own men in to bring out the coal while my grandfather supervised. This was the situation when between the wars he had sunk a pit in Yorkshire for Lord Somebody on his estate when one morning his lordship's bailiff came huffing importantly along and seeing several lorries and a small crowd of miners standing around he stuck his chest and his chin out and demanded to know what was going on. "Gas in the mine sir", said my grandfather, "it will be clear soon". "Nonsense" declared the bailiff, "time is money, get out of the way and let those men in". The conversation soon turned into an argument and then the bailiff tried to push grandfather away and that is when my grandfather, Herbert Taylor, decked his lordship's bailiff and by doing so perhaps saved lives that day even though he lost his job and after the bailiff had spread the word Herbert never worked in mining again apart from some tunneling in Glasgow when he lodged in a single room apartment in the Gorbals with a family of ten. Herbert lived to 96, something he probably wouldn't have done if mining hadn't given him up. In the last years of his life he sometimes regressed into the past and relived his experiences, usually in the middle of the night when he would be screaming for help to get a man out and for somebody to get those pumps going. His language was ripe Anglo Saxon... Clearly he had experienced horrors underground he hadn't previously shared. Working Man makes me think of him...
Your grandfather truly was a hero. Those were very hard times and very little money was paid to the men for long, hard hours doing dirty and dangerous work. It was a tradition for boys to follow their fathers into the mines as soon as they were allowed to go. It's no wonder then that so many families risked everything to leave their home country for America seeking a better life for their children. My husband's great grandfather worked in the mines in Wales. A terrible life all around. So many miners died in the mines and many more died of black lung caused by the coal dust. Today's generations only THINK they have it rough. If it's not long hours at a desk or some menial job, then it's something a little more physically tiring but it more than likely isn't going to kill them with black lung or some other form of cancer.
@@donnahowell4864 - thanks for that Donna. You are quite correct, those earlier generations were a different breed by comparison - as tough and hard as nails and that wasn't confined to miners, people just had to do what was available to earn a living and hard work make muscles that do hard work even though an excess of hard work does often shorten a life. My father, after a few false starts, began his working life as a truck driver. I couldn't contemplate carrying an 18 stone sack of grain or a 19 stone sack of beans but alone and unaided loading his 8 wheeled truck with those "railway sacks" by hand was a major part of his work and then sheeting and roping his load, only to do it all again at his destination (flour mill). Later he became a drayman and the apparent ease he displayed when handling huge full barrels was a visual treat. His toughness wasn't confined to working long and hard but also to minor injuries, like most of his peers he just didn't seem to feel pain and it was rare an injury caused him to pause his work, he would just keep bleeding and try to stick to his schedule...
Problem was the miners were too ignorant to fight against their capitalist exploiters. They were divided. I knew lots-of miners during the strike of 1984. I was always lead believed they were the salt of the earth. How wrong I was, most of them were right wing racist scum. Shocked me. Most of them hate working class asylum seekers etc. If I had have known the truth I would never have donated money to the striking miners
I'm a grandson of a miner from the Rhondda, i never met him as he was lost in a mining tragedy before i was born. All i know was Grandad was down the pits by day and did the local workingmans clubs by night as a comedian known as " Dai the Comic" Wish i knew more. Proud of this song especially by David Alexander
Thank you..tears in my eyes..My great great grandfather & great grandfather survived one of the worse disasters in Diamond, Illinois...Tribute to all of you & those who have gone before us....
Similar experience. My father died from asbestosis after working the asbestos mines in Australia. Before he died he made my brother and I promise him we would never go to the mines. I never went to work in the mines (though I almost have once or twice for need of money) but I did marry a miners daughter lol. Hat's off to to the miners ;-)
Everlasting love and respect to them all, we would not be here now if they had not gone before us. To ALL miners. X. I worked above driving tipper trucks and had my own life changing accident whilst repairing one, my butties had me freed and in casualty within 30 minutes, I am so glad that it never happened below.
My Dad was a working man - he made h is living with his hands, and I will never forget what he did for us - and you too, George, my father in law xxxxx God love you both.
God bless all those miners , it's hard way to make a living . I have an Uncle who worked underground his whole life ... He is retired now , and enjoying his retirement. I cannot listen to this song without thinking of those who were not as fortunate. God Speed to those ..... Beautiful Song , and the Video is chillin , the video actually made me role a tear .... God bless you all... 👍👍👍
Dubliners was/IS in a class of their own , and this is one of the best videos which accompanies the song at whole TH-cam.. It's sad that Troubles and Winter of discontent produced the worse times for distant working people since WW 2
This was my dad favorite song as he and the family work in coal mines.he sadly passed away of MS October 21st 2004 we played this working man at the end of his funeral as everyone sat down and listened till the end
A powerful song that brought a tear to my eye like many others listening. My husband, my dad and all my male relatives were miners before they closed all the pits around here. My husband and a few ex work mates happened to meet in the supermarket. They all agreed, if they could go back down the pit tomorrow, they would; no job they have done since matches it. One guy said, "I miss it so much that sometimes I'm tempted to dig my own mine at the bottom of the garden!" Yes, there were hardships in the dark and dirt but pride too.
Can you tell what country do you come from please? I love your story and I think the miners' fate was the same in every country. thank you for your words.
I broke my father's heart when I went down. I lost him many years ago. I still feel the pain. Even tho' I did well in my life after ten years in the pit.
I was at the funeral of my dear friend Bobby Smith today a minor all his working life and they played this tune awesome brought tears to my eyes God bless my friend great times pal x
My dad went down the pit aged 15 in 1927 and worked all his life in the Yorkshire coal field until he retired on his 65th birthday, he, and his two younger brothers made sure that none of their sons went down the pit! I've been down quite a few pits and thank heavens never had to work for a living in a mine!
I'm a fan of learning what our Miners went through to survive. I have a keen interest as my family relations are from the mining era. Sadly my mining relatives have passed on so in their memory i listen to songs, watch documentaries and go on day trips to Colliery Museums. My next day trip will be Big Pit coal mining museum in south Wales (UK) to see what went on and to see it through my relatives eyes. Another good Coal Mining song is: The Pretoria Pit Disaster of 1910, this happened in Lancashire (UK). The best copy ive found is on youtube done by The original Houghton Weavers from an album called Howfen Wakes. For those of you who haven't heard this song, i will warn you it is very sad but it really hits home when you carefully listen to the lyrics to find a woman lost her husband and all four sons in the disaster.
This song was written By Rita MacNeil who was a Canadian folk singer, (May 28, 1944 - April 16, 2013) and her many songs are very beautiful and touch our souls.
I come from a mining community and my grandfather John and Uncle Andrew were killed in the mines. I have always wondered what was the difference between going two miles underground to dig coal in atrocious conditions and working on an oil rig - The wages...... are miles apart. I tell you keep them hungry and in a tied house they will work for pennies. God bless all miners!!!
Oh my gosh, where would we have been if not for the miners, Ma own dad was one. I remember the strikes, we supported them and lived through the hard times. Salt of the earth.
My grandfather started it the pit in the Rhondda on his thirteenth birthday after his father had died a few months previously. Gone now, but never forgotten and still loved.
Problem was the miners were too ignorant to fight against their capitalist exploiters. They were divided. I knew lots-of miners during the strike of 1984. I was always lead believed they were the salt of the earth. How wrong I was, most of them were right wing racist scum. Shocked me. Most of them hate working class asylum seekers etc. If I had have known the truth I would never have donated money to the striking miners
I have listened to this song by many artists but none is so emotional as the Dubliners along with this video of a collapse in the mine ❤❤ so heartbreaking to watch ❤❤❤
what a brilliant job The Dubliners have made of this song, really moving rendition thoughts go to everyone who has worked and passed away down those godforsaken places
My father worked in a coal mine in another state while my mother and siblings stayed on the farm in Oklahoma. It was a common means to supplement a meager farm income and my grandfather had done the same before him. Daddy was in a cave-in in the late 1930s. They were trapped for nearly a full day before the rescuers broke through to the men and pulled the live ones from the mine. He told me 40 years later that he prayed the whole time that God would let him live and come home to his wife and children. He also told me that he'd told God that if he let him get out alive that he'd never come back to the mines. He brought his family to California. I was his youngest son and he'd never told any of his children or my mother what had happened before he told me that day 40 years on. Daddy died at 84 and never spent another moment in mine after he came out alive that day. Mining remains a hard, dangerous life.
There is a God who answered his prayers. By today's standards to get trapped miners out is difficult, even with new technology. In the 1930's it must have been a miracle. Nice life story to what could have been such a different ending.
This is a wonderful song ...and one has to salute all the miners of this world ...their many losses that have occurred of human life is testimony to the harsh conditions and danger they have to endure every day....and to the former pit ponies and canaries that in the past were their only help down those mines in years gone past ...God bless the miners..
This is a great working mans song. On 19 November 2010 there was a mining accident at Pike River in New Zealand. As the song state and as was in this case 29 souls were lost on that day. Without the mining industry and the battle of the miners in NZ we would not have the unions and the standard of living we enjoy today. We must remember all who have died in to pursuit of employment and for the better of man kind no matter where in the world they be.
+Trevor Te nice thing to say ..my uncle died of coal miners lung...remember not all rich were evil....just as my gran from ireland..told me all the british soilers were not evil
As we always say about my fellow Viet Nam veterans who were lost may the all RIP and me Never Forget. Those sayings also apply to the miners who were lost.
to add to the above New zealands west coast has had 3 major mining tragedies ,the Brunner mine 1896(66 men) strongman mine 1967( 17men ,2 still entombed)and pike river (29men,one of whom is my oldest sons first cousin) and quite a few smaller trageis (dobson ,roa spring creek).mining and forestry are big westcoast industries with hefty casualties. Nzs premier country singer Eddie low does a version of this song ,and in it he pays a heartfelt tribute to the pike river victims. should any of you ever travel to Nzs famous west coast of the south island -the mass graves at stillwater (brunner )strongman (karoro greymouth) and the pike river memorial in greymouth are worth a vist and some quiet reflection.
Problem was the miners were too ignorant to fight against their capitalist exploiters. They were divided. I knew lots-of miners during the strike of 1984. I was always lead believed they were the salt of the earth. How wrong I was, most of them were right wing racist scum. Shocked me. Most of them hate working class asylum seekers etc. If I had have known the truth I would never have donated money to the striking miners
Today we remember all Coal MIners lost underground in Nova Scotia .. Just under 2,500 Davis Day, also known as Miners' Memorial Day (and since November 25, 2008, officially as William Davis Miners' Memorial Day) is an annual day of remembrance observed on June 11 in coal mining communities in Nova Scotia, Canada to recognize all miners killed in the province's coal mines.
my grandad was a miner in newcastle long ago in the 19thcentuary , although he survived but a tribute to them all welsh love , irish scottish english etc. they worked hard bless x
Lovely song, my late father worked on the face in the west Yorkshire pits in the fithties and sixties , I'm grateful I never had to go down any coal mine to make a living, ,R.I,P and thank Rita for a lovely song R.I.P
"There's a model little village..The finest I have seen . It must have fell from Heaven, and they call that village The Plean." My uncle Eddy and his brothers arrived from Donegal and worked in the Stirlingshire pits of Plean, Fallin and Manor Powis. In the 1926 general strike, Uncle Eddy took casual work cutting birch for the production of vinegar..He didn't go back to the pits when the strike was over but spent the rest of his life "at the birch." In the film, I see a miner chalking a diagram on the wall. Uncle Eddy built a big shed in the yard he rented at Plean Station. On the wall of the shed, he chalked the words. "Happy is the man whose work is his hobby, and whose hobby is his work."
So proud of the composer and singer of this song, Rita MacNeil, from Big Pond, Cape Breton. Happy to know so many people appreciate the music and can relate to it. Brave are the miners of this world. From Cape Breton
My Grandad Davis was from an old Welsh family came here to the States and worked underground digging out snd building Camp David ! His whole family were miners in the old country ! 10 children and my Grandmother he left when he passed of a stroke underground ! The family of those men and my grandmother had to fight the company for years for better conditions underground and pensions ! It took them 20 years to get their due and his back pension ! God Bless those dear working men , the miners who are the toughest men I ever knew ! And my Grandfathers ( both ) who were always my Hero’s ! ❤❤❤❤
This song and "Giant Land" by Roger Whittaker captures the Irish culture and familial loyalty and grit and can't help but push my heart towards immense gratitude and respect for these fathers and sons.
My grandfather was a miner He often sing old russian miners song "The horns buzzed alarmingly"(Гудки тревожно загудели) about a young guy who died in a mine God bless all miners !
My grandfathers were both coal miners here in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. I only had the pleasure of getting to know one of them. He died this past February, a month shy of his 94th birthday and he was still coughing up the coal dust. He was a miner through and through, worked in the mines for the majority of his life besides enlisting in the Navy back in 1942. He was lucky enough to survive a cave-in in the early 1950's(although it claimed his right leg) and kept working in the mine until his retirement at age 65. I can only imagine what these poor men went through.
Have you heard the song called The Springhill mine disaster. this mine was in nova scotia . Luke Kelly RIP from the dubliners sings a Fantastic version. Working Men and Women of all lands unite.
My Granddad, God rest him, worked "Down Underground" from the age of 13 till his late 50s, when he took early retirement. He started out as a 'Hooker' down Howbridge Pit (Lancashire) and ended as Pit Area Manager, for t'North Wales Coal Board, at Gresford (North East Wales).
I can never hear this song without tears. It is unbelievable that this life is in our living memory. One would not think our men and boys needed to do such a hard and dangerous job, day in and day out. The world needs to get rid of coal and use only clean energy so this will never happen again. My heartfelt thanks to all the men who have done such dreadful jobs so the rest of us could have a more comfortable life. Ban coal mining throughout the world. What a good argument against coal mining.
A toast to you hard working men and women out there who work the mines and other difficult environments ,i have been down myself as an electrician it was a tough go one i care not to repeat
The Movietone Newsreel that is accompanying this powerful and moving song by The Dubliners, is from the Easington Colliery pit disaster, County Durham on the 29th May 1951. Eighty-Three Killed, including Two from the rescue team.
Sorry Peter Fell. This film is in two parts, the first is of the Knockshinnoch Mine disaster in Ayrshire, September 1950 , at 1.40 in the film you will see where the boggy ground collapsed and flooded No 5 Drift which trapped 129 men. They managed to save 116 but sadly 13 were lost and their bodies were only recovered months later. The second is as you say Easington Colliery in 1951 where 80 plus men were lost due to an explosion.
This song was written by Rita McNeil, a Canadian singer/songwriter from Nova Scotia. I always get a twinge of pride when I hear the likes of The Dubliners sing it. Rita passed on April 16 2013. Well done Miss Rita. You have done your country proud!
I went thro the strike in 84 it was hard. The only person Ive ever wished dead was MT. I play guitar and this is my next song to learn. all the people that come on here slagging the English of dont get it, its not the working men of these lands that have a problem its the conservative and toe the line labour politicians that we should be united againstl
Thanks man... my grandad worked in coalmines in Holland...so did my mum´s brother but he died there...underground... So its sad that humans need that coal so much... thanks again
My dad down the pit for years but sad he passed away 2 years now. He did 2 jobs two keep his family going with food and clothes. He was a fantastic man .
Proud, hard working heritage of the men and families who gave nations heat and light, fought in our wars, fought mine owners and governments. Hard working folk who should be recognised for their contribution powering our economy for so many years. Looking back I wish I'd helped them more in their time of need. ( I worked in engineering factories at the time of some of the strikes )
I have been singing this song after hearing RITA singing it, such a POWERFUL song, I play accordion with a rythm guitar gently in the background, and the public all seem to love to sing the chorus without being prompted, AT the age of 65 thank god I,m STILL ALIVE, so powerfull ! R I P. RITA also my late wife RITA.
Ein schönes und trauriges Lied! Ruhet in Frieden all ihr tödlich verunglückten Minenarbeiter ... A beautiful and sad song! R.I.P. all your dead mine worker 😥
Been underground to make a living, paid 9 bux an hour back in mid 90s as a HDEM. Furthest down was to a max 7400 feet, but my working level was 6800. I would not want to be trapped down there. God bless all who gave their lives, fought, and continue to make our lives safer down there.
Father a miner and I went down for the first time aged 16. Deep mine under the North Sea. Managed to escape. But will always hold my fellow miners in great respect.
Thomas lagan i worked for thtee years in the mines on the west coast of the South Island in New Zealand...theres 29 of our mates waiting to be brought back home from the Pike River Mine...God bless them all ...and the poor bastards sleeping at the bottom of the Strongman mine as well
The song is of course one from the heart. The video accompanying it is really quite poignant. How many times did people stop everything and focus on the mine hoping against all hope that a cave-in could yield a happy ending! Respect to all miners and their caring families.
I remember being on strike in Dublin for better wages in the bookies and the miners in Wales and Scotland stood by us and helped with payments God bless you all I'm a pensioner now and have never forgotten the kindness shown to us ❤
My Father in law was 16 when he went underground in Wales..those were hard times..He died in South Africa with lung problems..I find this song sad but a great tribute to all those men..love it Margaret Evans South Africa
dw my grumpu worked in the mines he passed away at age 84
I am a daughter of a coal miner who worked underground for 24 years.until it closed,then worked a cotton mill. Lost him at the age of 54 very sad day ,never forgotten best dad in the world. He worked at Reedley pit in Lancashire,James Walsh xx
My Dad was in the RAF during the war but no work was available in Ireland afterwards so he had to go to Doncaster and down the mines to get work. Mum fell pregnant but Dad missed the birth but when he came home after 2 years he said he's never go down the mines again. Hats off to the hardest job in the world. Dad died at 97 a couple of years back and this song always reminds me of the things he said. Lovely song
In memory of my step Grandfather, Ken Chambers, who passed away at 8PM on February 21st 2021. An ex coal miner from Castleford, England.
R.I.P 🙏🏻🏴💯✌🏻
God bless and keep his brave soul safe
My The Lord have mercy on him.
Forever goalminers Granddaughters ❤❤💙💙🖕💪
Wow!
I'm a miners daughter, and was so proud of what my dad did to put food on our table.. God bless to you all
Mined for 12 years under ground ,, won’t do it again
God bless your dad.
@@Joki-oh7ep thank you
me to my grandfather sank a shaft in the manor powis in scotland
Respect 🙏
An ex miner, i have the greatest respect for all the miners who fought for their jobs back in the eighties. Love this song, brings a lump to my throat & goosepimples everytime i hear this.
Problem was the miners were too ignorant to fight against their
capitalist exploiters. They were divided. I knew lots-of miners during
the strike of 1984. I was always lead believed they were the salt of
the earth. How wrong I was, most of them were right wing racist scum.
Shocked me. Most of them hate working class asylum seekers etc. If I had
have known the truth I would never have donated money to the striking
miners
Screwed by thier own sadly 😢
X miner proud to be one great lads never see the likes of them again heroes
I still go to work underground
May the Lord keep us safe
I’m the wife of Joe grafton turner machinist of west cornforth , a strong union man and working man all his life I’m his proud wife of 52 yrs rest in peace Joe xxx
RIP friend.
My dad died on the job as a truck driver at 60 years old… half a year from his planned retirement.
I was bitter for years but I’ve realized now that he’s my hero. I hope I can have his strength of will to show my son what a working man can achieve in his lifetime.
great song respect to all miners my father was a miner so was his brother but unfortunately he was involved in a fatal accident whilst underground this song brings back many sad days but very proud that my father and uncle were miners R.I.P. my dear dad one day we will be together this song is a tribute to all miners
As the grandson of a coal miner from Springhill, Nova Scotia, I have enormous respect for the men of the deep. This song is an anthem to them all.
My father, two grandfathers, and two uncles all died due to illness from working as miners in the Durham coalfields.I only heard this song a couple weeks ago and it says everything about these hard working men.My father always said he would never let me go down the pit as it was a terrible way to earn a living.Let us remember those men who still toil underground in dangerous and filthy conditions. May God keep them safe
My Grandad was a miner his name was Willie Cullen he came from Leitrim he married a Kilkenny lady and ended up in the Castlecomer Comer coal mines County Kilkenny a true gentleman.💚
I'm the son of a coal miner that survived three cave-ins with coal dust on his lungs to the day he died. One uncle was a pony driver. Another was a blaster that died of black lung. I'msso proud and grateful for them. They always put food on the table, kept a roof over our heads, kept us safe, gave morals and principles. My dad got me out of Penn before I got old enough to go to the breaker.
Problem was the miners were too ignorant to fight against their
capitalist exploiters. They were divided. I knew lots-of miners during
the strike of 1984. I was always lead believed they were the salt of
the earth. How wrong I was, most of them were right wing racist scum.
Shocked me. Most of them hate working class asylum seekers etc. If I had
have known the truth I would never have donated money to the striking
miners
In memory of my beloved husband George Skinner xxx
I am married to a wonderful man who worked underground as a hard rock uranium miner in Canada. He had 20 tons of rock collapse on him and his mates . They didn't get to them for 12 hours. Sadly my husband was the only one brought out
alive. I thank the good Lord he is still here for me to love.
I worked underground in elliot lake uranium mine sorry about your husbands mates From Tom Drake hug yopur husband.
what an upsetting story, so glad for you
paulaleeable not much has changed has it
Tough as nails them boys. Respect
i live in a town where there was a mining disaster, just a blue plaque on the ground, no service held nothing. shame on the town council, god bless you and your family.
It's wonderful to know that a song from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada has reached people all over the world. The late Rita MacNeil wrote this song and she will always be beloved on our island. Thanks you for keeping her music alive. kathleen Boutilier
@kathleenshaw1226
1 second ago
I went to her concert in Vancouver, Canada may years ago. I am so proud of her, a beautiful Canadian singer
@@kathleenshaw1226 Hi Kathleen, I also was at one of her concerts in Vancouver, Do you remember the name of the building she held it in? It was quite well known and is on the tip of my tongue but won't come out. Did she sing "Bring it on home" when you were there?
We have so much owed to our special generations.
My grandfather was a pit-sinker. His job was to supervise the sinking of the shaft, erect the winding gear, dig out the main road and instal pumps and ventilation. Once the mine was producing coal the local traders put their own men in to bring out the coal while my grandfather supervised.
This was the situation when between the wars he had sunk a pit in Yorkshire for Lord Somebody on his estate when one morning his lordship's bailiff came huffing importantly along and seeing several lorries and a small crowd of miners standing around he stuck his chest and his chin out and demanded to know what was going on. "Gas in the mine sir", said my grandfather, "it will be clear soon".
"Nonsense" declared the bailiff, "time is money, get out of the way and let those men in". The conversation soon turned into an argument and then the bailiff tried to push grandfather away and that is when my grandfather, Herbert Taylor, decked his lordship's bailiff and by doing so perhaps saved lives that day even though he lost his job and after the bailiff had spread the word Herbert never worked in mining again apart from some tunneling in Glasgow when he lodged in a single room apartment in the Gorbals with a family of ten.
Herbert lived to 96, something he probably wouldn't have done if mining hadn't given him up. In the last years of his life he sometimes regressed into the past and relived his experiences, usually in the middle of the night when he would be screaming for help to get a man out and for somebody to get those pumps going. His language was ripe Anglo Saxon...
Clearly he had experienced horrors underground he hadn't previously shared. Working Man makes me think of him...
Youg Grandfather is a hero
Your grandfather truly was a hero. Those were very hard times and very little money was paid to the men for long, hard hours doing dirty and dangerous work. It was a tradition for boys to follow their fathers into the mines as soon as they were allowed to go. It's no wonder then that so many families risked everything to leave their home country for America seeking a better life for their children.
My husband's great grandfather worked in the mines in Wales. A terrible life all around. So many miners died in the mines and many more died of black lung caused by the coal dust.
Today's generations only THINK they have it rough. If it's not long hours at a desk or some menial job, then it's something a little more physically tiring but it more than likely isn't going to kill them with black lung or some other form of cancer.
@@donnahowell4864 - thanks for that Donna. You are quite correct, those earlier generations were a different breed by comparison - as tough and hard as nails and that wasn't confined to miners, people just had to do what was available to earn a living and hard work make muscles that do hard work even though an excess of hard work does often shorten a life.
My father, after a few false starts, began his working life as a truck driver. I couldn't contemplate carrying an 18 stone sack of grain or a 19 stone sack of beans but alone and unaided loading his 8 wheeled truck with those "railway sacks" by hand was a major part of his work and then sheeting and roping his load, only to do it all again at his destination (flour mill).
Later he became a drayman and the apparent ease he displayed when handling huge full barrels was a visual treat. His toughness wasn't confined to working long and hard but also to minor injuries, like most of his peers he just didn't seem to feel pain and it was rare an injury caused him to pause his work, he would just keep bleeding and try to stick to his schedule...
as a former miner in Yorkshire it makes me feel so proud of my community and still moves me wonderful song about wonderful people
We played this song at my grandad's funeral today. Rest in peace, now you are at rest
I almost cry when I hear this wonderful tribute to the coal miners who took such hard risks every time they entered the mines.
Brave brave men God bless them all ☘
God bless every miner who went down underground, I say this as the proud grandson and nephew of coal miners
Problem was the miners were too ignorant to fight against their
capitalist exploiters. They were divided. I knew lots-of miners during
the strike of 1984. I was always lead believed they were the salt of
the earth. How wrong I was, most of them were right wing racist scum.
Shocked me. Most of them hate working class asylum seekers etc. If I had
have known the truth I would never have donated money to the striking
miners
I'm a grandson of a miner from the Rhondda, i never met him as he was lost in a mining tragedy before i was born.
All i know was Grandad was down the pits by day and did the local workingmans clubs by night as a comedian known as "
Dai the Comic"
Wish i knew more.
Proud of this song especially by David Alexander
My grandfather I never knew was a Rhondda miner. Lead the miners strike in the 1980’s.
Thank you..tears in my eyes..My great great grandfather & great grandfather survived one of the worse disasters in Diamond, Illinois...Tribute to all of you & those who have gone before us....
I am also a German Coalminer. It´s a Great Song for the Miners of the World. God bless you all.
Glückauf
+Zeche Hugo auch so,hugo,.und vergiss nie die prise...
P ratty song
Pretty song
do they still do deep coal mining in Germany?
They have been hell bent to shut down the mines here in the states.
Lanarkshire Coal mines killed my father. My mother vowed my 2 brothers would never go down the mines. They never did, thank God. God Bless all miners.
Thanks a lot.
Similar experience. My father died from asbestosis after working the asbestos mines in Australia. Before he died he made my brother and I promise him we would never go to the mines. I never went to work in the mines (though I almost have once or twice for need of money) but I did marry a miners daughter lol. Hat's off to to the miners ;-)
Viva la revaloution ft master race abused scumbag communist
Words of a working man I am.
your ma was a smart lady
Everlasting love and respect to them all, we would not be here now if they had not gone before us. To ALL miners. X. I worked above driving tipper trucks and had my own life changing accident whilst repairing one, my butties had me freed and in casualty within 30 minutes, I am so glad that it never happened below.
Proper Welsh 🏴
My Dad was a working man - he made h is living with his hands, and I will never forget what he did for us - and you too, George, my father in law xxxxx God love you both.
God bless all those miners , it's hard way to make a living . I have an Uncle who worked underground his whole life ... He is retired now , and enjoying his retirement. I cannot listen to this song without thinking of those who were not as fortunate. God Speed to those .....
Beautiful Song , and the Video is chillin , the video actually made me role a tear .... God bless you all...
👍👍👍
Dubliners was/IS in a class of their own , and this is one of the best videos which accompanies the song at whole TH-cam..
It's sad that Troubles and Winter of discontent produced the worse times for distant working people since WW 2
These memories make todays youth look like the whimps they are.
This was my dad favorite song as he and the family work in coal mines.he sadly passed away of MS October 21st 2004 we played this working man at the end of his funeral as everyone sat down and listened till the end
A powerful song that brought a tear to my eye like many others listening. My husband, my dad and all my male relatives were miners before they closed all the pits around here. My husband and a few ex work mates happened to meet in the supermarket. They all agreed, if they could go back down the pit tomorrow, they would; no job they have done since matches it. One guy said, "I miss it so much that sometimes I'm tempted to dig my own mine at the bottom of the garden!" Yes, there were hardships in the dark and dirt but pride too.
Wonderful brave men .thank your men for their hardwork that kept this country going and us warm.God bless all minors
Can you tell what country do you come from please? I love your story and I think the miners' fate was the same in every country. thank you for your words.
I broke my father's heart when I went down. I lost him many years ago.
I still feel the pain. Even tho' I did well in my life after ten years in the pit.
I was at the funeral of my dear friend Bobby Smith today a minor all his working life and they played this tune awesome brought tears to my eyes God bless my friend great times pal x
feel it for you and yours chin up
Je vis dans une région belge où les mines et leurs travailleurs ont marqué l'histoire . Pensée pleine d'émotions à mon grand père.
never forget the brave who went under ground to feed there families and the nation
Amen. 🙌🏻🙌🏻
All the nations of the United Kingdoms, notice the plural, different but with the same in common.
Cymru am beth 🙂👍
@@bingbong2205 Cymru am BYTH not beth
@@wandsaintknight 👍 thanks 🙂
My dad went down the pit aged 15 in 1927 and worked all his life in the Yorkshire coal field until he retired on his 65th birthday, he, and his two younger brothers made sure that none of their sons went down the pit! I've been down quite a few pits and thank heavens never had to work for a living in a mine!
I'm a fan of learning what our Miners went through to survive. I have a keen interest as my family relations are from the mining era. Sadly my mining relatives have passed on so in their memory i listen to songs, watch documentaries and go on day trips to Colliery Museums. My next day trip will be Big Pit coal mining museum in south Wales (UK) to see what went on and to see it through my relatives eyes. Another good Coal Mining song is: The Pretoria Pit Disaster of 1910, this happened in Lancashire (UK). The best copy ive found is on youtube done by The original Houghton Weavers from an album called Howfen Wakes. For those of you who haven't heard this song, i will warn you it is very sad but it really hits home when you carefully listen to the lyrics to find a woman lost her husband and all four sons in the disaster.
This song was written By Rita MacNeil who was a Canadian folk singer, (May 28, 1944 - April 16, 2013) and her many songs are very beautiful and touch our souls.
I come from a mining community and my grandfather John and Uncle Andrew were killed in the mines. I have always wondered what was the difference between going two miles underground to dig coal in atrocious conditions and working on an oil rig - The wages...... are miles apart. I tell you keep them hungry and in a tied house they will work for pennies. God bless all miners!!!
Oh my gosh, where would we have been if not for the miners, Ma own dad was one. I remember the strikes, we supported them and lived through the hard times. Salt of the earth.
Proud to be Welsh 🏴💙❤️
So you should be boyo ,the welsh are the salt of the earth .
From an irish man
Aye marra tho welsh are hard worken men az fre Cumbria and az proud to be ower Cumbrian
Proud Cape Bretoner!!!! loves to hear!!! RIP Rita
My grandfather was a welsh miner.
My grandfather started it the pit in the Rhondda on his thirteenth birthday after his father had died a few months previously. Gone now, but never forgotten and still loved.
Tears rolling down my face. My father struggled underground as a miner when safety was more or less overlooked.
There was no rules then. The miners had to do what was required. And they did for all our sakes.
My Father to brings a tear to my eyies,
Is this some sort of disaster. It is very sad. God bless them
Problem was the miners were too ignorant to fight against their
capitalist exploiters. They were divided. I knew lots-of miners during
the strike of 1984. I was always lead believed they were the salt of
the earth. How wrong I was, most of them were right wing racist scum.
Shocked me. Most of them hate working class asylum seekers etc. If I had
have known the truth I would never have donated money to the striking
miners
I have listened to this song by many artists but none is so emotional as the Dubliners along with this video of a collapse in the mine ❤❤ so heartbreaking to watch ❤❤❤
what a brilliant job The Dubliners have made of this song, really moving rendition
thoughts go to everyone who has worked and passed away down those godforsaken places
My father worked in a coal mine in another state while my mother and siblings stayed on the farm in Oklahoma. It was a common means to supplement a meager farm income and my grandfather had done the same before him. Daddy was in a cave-in in the late 1930s. They were trapped for nearly a full day before the rescuers broke through to the men and pulled the live ones from the mine. He told me 40 years later that he prayed the whole time that God would let him live and come home to his wife and children. He also told me that he'd told God that if he let him get out alive that he'd never come back to the mines. He brought his family to California. I was his youngest son and he'd never told any of his children or my mother what had happened before he told me that day 40 years on. Daddy died at 84 and never spent another moment in mine after he came out alive that day. Mining remains a hard, dangerous life.
There is a God who answered his prayers.
By today's standards to get trapped miners out is difficult, even with new technology.
In the 1930's it must have been a miracle.
Nice life story to what could have been such a different ending.
My dad survived three cave-ins. He got me away from the mines just before I was old enough (14 years old) to go to the breaker. God bless our dads.
Fuck ev
Had the greatest respect for these men, RIP.
These people are never alone and are always loved.
My grandad died 2 day and he requested to play this song at his funeral so proud of him and ino he's in a better place
God love him. He's in the kingdom of heaven and he wil be watching over in all. Takecare and Godbless.
God bless your grandfather Men...
@@alamaim1563591263131 rest in peace 2 ur grandad!!
& my fathers funeral song, a hard working man for little pay, his only advice to his sons was you will not be a miner, so soldiers we became!!
My Auld man was a Tunneler what brave strong men.
16 years old and this song makes me cry! My granda loves this song💙💙
This is a wonderful song ...and one has to salute all the miners of this world ...their many losses that have occurred of human life is testimony to the harsh conditions and danger they have to endure every day....and to the former pit ponies and canaries that in the past were their only help down those mines in years gone past ...God bless the miners..
This is a great working mans song. On 19 November 2010 there was a mining accident at Pike River in New Zealand. As the song state and as was in this case 29 souls were lost on that day. Without the mining industry and the battle of the miners in NZ we would not have the unions and the standard of living we enjoy today. We must remember all who have died in to pursuit of employment and for the better of man kind no matter where in the world they be.
+Trevor Te nice thing to say ..my uncle died of coal miners lung...remember not all rich were evil....just as my gran from ireland..told me all the british soilers were not evil
+menny scottish soldiers were from mininig villigeges and had feelings for irsh peoplekmCaroline Gray
As we always say about my fellow Viet Nam veterans who were lost may the all RIP and me Never Forget. Those sayings also apply to the miners who were lost.
to add to the above New zealands west coast has had 3 major mining tragedies ,the Brunner mine 1896(66 men) strongman mine 1967( 17men ,2 still entombed)and pike river (29men,one of whom is my oldest sons first cousin) and quite a few smaller trageis (dobson ,roa spring creek).mining and forestry are big westcoast industries with hefty casualties.
Nzs premier country singer Eddie low does a version of this song ,and in it he pays a heartfelt tribute to the pike river victims.
should any of you ever travel to Nzs famous west coast of the south island -the mass graves at stillwater (brunner )strongman (karoro greymouth) and the pike river memorial in greymouth are worth a vist and some quiet reflection.
Problem was the miners were too ignorant to fight against their
capitalist exploiters. They were divided. I knew lots-of miners during
the strike of 1984. I was always lead believed they were the salt of
the earth. How wrong I was, most of them were right wing racist scum.
Shocked me. Most of them hate working class asylum seekers etc. If I had
have known the truth I would never have donated money to the striking
miners
Today we remember all Coal MIners lost underground in Nova Scotia .. Just under 2,500 Davis Day, also known as Miners' Memorial Day (and since November 25, 2008, officially as William Davis Miners' Memorial Day) is an annual day of remembrance observed on June 11 in coal mining communities in Nova Scotia, Canada to recognize all miners killed in the province's coal mines.
my grandad was a miner in newcastle long ago in the 19thcentuary , although he survived but a tribute to them all welsh love , irish scottish english etc. they worked hard bless x
12 years my old grandad got laid to rest this was is funeral song... not going to lie brings tears out.
Lovely song, my late father worked on the face in the west Yorkshire pits in the fithties and sixties , I'm grateful I never had to go down any coal mine to make a living, ,R.I,P and thank Rita for a lovely song R.I.P
"There's a model little village..The finest I have seen . It must have fell from Heaven, and they call that village The Plean." My uncle Eddy and his brothers arrived from Donegal and worked in the Stirlingshire pits of Plean, Fallin and Manor Powis. In the 1926 general strike, Uncle Eddy took casual work cutting birch for the production of vinegar..He didn't go back to the pits when the strike was over but spent the rest of his life "at the birch." In the film, I see a miner chalking a diagram on the wall. Uncle Eddy built a big shed in the yard he rented at Plean Station. On the wall of the shed, he chalked the words. "Happy is the man whose work is his hobby, and whose hobby is his work."
So proud of the composer and singer of this song, Rita MacNeil, from Big Pond, Cape Breton. Happy to know so many people appreciate the music and can relate to it. Brave are the miners of this world. From Cape Breton
full respect to all the men of the mines im a proud yorkshire man and a great song rip rita mc
sounds like paddy reilly not the dubliners
@@rogermarkendale5404 he spent a short spell with them, like Jim McCann, Patsie Watchorn and another few.
What great music has come out of Ireland these have so much meaning
To my friends in West Virginia...God Bless all the miners and families
My Grandad Davis was from an old Welsh family came here to the States and worked underground digging out snd building Camp David ! His whole family were miners in the old country ! 10 children and my Grandmother he left when he passed of a stroke underground ! The family of those men and my grandmother had to fight the company for years for better conditions underground and pensions ! It took them 20 years to get their due and his back pension ! God Bless those dear working men , the miners who are the toughest men I ever knew ! And my Grandfathers ( both ) who were always my Hero’s ! ❤❤❤❤
This song and "Giant Land" by Roger Whittaker captures the Irish culture and familial loyalty and grit and can't help but push my heart towards immense gratitude and respect for these fathers and sons.
I work in the public employment service, and all I do feel when I listen to this tune is proud...
fantastic lyrics fantastic song brings a tear to my eyes
My grandfather was a miner He often sing old russian miners song "The horns buzzed alarmingly"(Гудки тревожно загудели) about a young guy who died in a mine God bless all miners !
i love this song GOD BLESS TO ALL MINER`S
Very imperssive,the appearance of classic songs combined with pictures of old miners is very good,grey 👍👍👍💪💪💪
From galway to wolverhampton to be buried in a nameless grave with others Laurence bourk my grandfather never to be forgotten
My old grandad was a pit man, started at 14 never heard hin swear ..... hard men miss him
My grandfathers were both coal miners here in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. I only had the pleasure of getting to know one of them. He died this past February, a month shy of his 94th birthday and he was still coughing up the coal dust. He was a miner through and through, worked in the mines for the majority of his life besides enlisting in the Navy back in 1942. He was lucky enough to survive a cave-in in the early 1950's(although it claimed his right leg) and kept working in the mine until his retirement at age 65. I can only imagine what these poor men went through.
Have you heard the song called The Springhill mine disaster. this mine was in nova scotia . Luke Kelly RIP from the dubliners sings a Fantastic version. Working Men and Women of all lands unite.
Rip Saxa, Tunnel Tiger, Father. Strongest bloke I've ever known. Love you dad x
I had miners in my family, so find this song very emotional . ❤
@@patglennon9671 0
Never ever forget the brave men who went underground. I won't for as long as I live as the proud grandson and nephew of West Yorkshire miners
My Granddad, God rest him, worked "Down Underground" from the age of 13 till his late 50s, when he took early retirement.
He started out as a 'Hooker' down Howbridge Pit (Lancashire) and ended as Pit Area Manager, for t'North Wales Coal Board, at Gresford (North East Wales).
I love this song am a working proud irish blood man Martin
I love this group and I can not hear without remembering that it was his best crooner: Kelly Luck! I cry whenever I hear!
I can never hear this song without tears. It is unbelievable that this life is in our living memory. One would not think our men and boys needed to do such a hard and dangerous job, day in and day out. The world needs to get rid of coal and use only clean energy so this will never happen again. My heartfelt thanks to all the men who have done such dreadful jobs so the rest of us could have a more comfortable life. Ban coal mining throughout the world. What a good argument against coal mining.
A toast to you hard working men and women out there who work the mines and other difficult environments ,i have been down myself as an electrician it was a tough go one i care not to repeat
A Beautiful & yet sad song that will never leave you once you have heard it!
The Movietone Newsreel that is accompanying this powerful and moving song by The Dubliners, is from the Easington Colliery pit disaster, County Durham on the 29th May 1951. Eighty-Three Killed, including Two from the rescue team.
thanks for the info - I was wondering about it
Very Powerful Video .... I had watering eyes watching this .
God Speed to all those who passed ....
😥😥
Sorry Peter Fell. This film is in two parts, the first is of the Knockshinnoch Mine disaster in Ayrshire, September 1950 , at 1.40 in the film you will see where the boggy ground collapsed and flooded No 5 Drift which trapped 129 men. They managed to save 116 but sadly 13 were lost and their bodies were only recovered months later. The second is as you say Easington Colliery in 1951 where 80 plus men were lost due to an explosion.
@@aliasdeputydog Thanks for the clarification of the video.
This song was written by Rita McNeil, a Canadian singer/songwriter from Nova Scotia. I always get a twinge of pride when I hear the likes of The Dubliners sing it. Rita passed on April 16 2013. Well done Miss Rita. You have done your country proud!
I went thro the strike in 84 it was hard. The only person Ive ever wished dead was MT. I play guitar and this is my next song to learn. all the people that come on here slagging the English of dont get it, its not the working men of these lands that have a problem its the conservative and toe the line labour politicians that we should be united againstl
Wholeheartedly agree with you - the media have a ball setting working people against each other and it needs to stop.
carol buckley
carol buckley
Working Men and Women of all lands unite. One race the Human Race.
Do you know the chord's?
Thanks man...
my grandad worked in coalmines in Holland...so did my mum´s brother but he died there...underground...
So its sad that humans need that coal so much...
thanks again
So much meaning behind the words of this song. Love it!
My dad down the pit for years but sad he passed away 2 years now. He did 2 jobs two keep his family going with food and clothes. He was a fantastic man .
Proud, hard working heritage of the men and families who gave nations heat and light, fought in our wars, fought mine owners and governments. Hard working folk who should be recognised for their contribution powering our economy for so many years.
Looking back I wish I'd helped them more in their time of need. ( I worked in engineering factories at the time of some of the strikes )
I have been singing this song after hearing RITA singing it, such a POWERFUL song, I play accordion with a rythm guitar gently in the background, and the public all seem to love to sing the chorus without being prompted, AT the age of 65 thank god I,m STILL ALIVE, so powerfull ! R I P. RITA also my late wife RITA.
My da just passed away 40yrs down the pit i played this at his funeral rip my da an best mate pitman 🙏
Howay and godspeed your dad. Worth a thousand bankers.
I, my a seventy seven ex miner and Ive heard this from various singers and I get a lump in throat everytime thank you
Ein schönes und trauriges Lied! Ruhet in Frieden all ihr tödlich verunglückten Minenarbeiter ... A beautiful and sad song! R.I.P. all your dead mine worker 😥
Been underground to make a living, paid 9 bux an hour back in mid 90s as a HDEM.
Furthest down was to a max 7400 feet, but my working level was 6800. I would not want to be trapped down there.
God bless all who gave their lives, fought, and continue to make our lives safer down there.
Much respect to Rita MacNeil for writing this 🎵 song👏, good cover of it here.
I went to her concert in Vancouver, Canada may years ago. I am so proud of her, a beautiful Canadian singer.
Father a miner and I went down for the first time aged 16. Deep mine under the North Sea. Managed to escape. But will always hold my fellow miners in great respect.
god bless each and eveyone of them
Respect and the spirt to honor people is a gift and a true mark of a person with expect a heart and respect for life and his fellow man or woman
to every miner lost underground RIP
Thomas lagan i worked for thtee years in the mines on the west coast of the South Island in New Zealand...theres 29 of our mates waiting to be brought back home from the Pike River Mine...God bless them all ...and the poor bastards sleeping at the bottom of the Strongman mine as well
and for all that will die in the future due to inhuman conditions and poor work safety.
India and China are leaders.
Love this song ! One of my Mom and Dads favourites !!
The song is of course one from the heart. The video accompanying it is really quite poignant. How many times did people stop everything and focus on the mine hoping against all hope that a cave-in could yield a happy ending! Respect to all miners and their caring families.
I worked underground in 5 different pits from 1975 to 1981 and will never forget it
God bless and protect all miners😀