The Pound A Week Rise Lyrics - Seven Nations

The Pound a Week Rise 

(E. Pickford) 

Come all you colliers who work down the mine 

From Scotland to south Wales from Teesdale to Tyne 

I'll sing you a song about the 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 workin' in a dungeon 

For your pound a week rise 

In 19 and 60 a few years ago 

The mineworkers' leaders to Lord Robbins did go 

Sayin' "We work very hard, every day we risk our lives, 

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

Well up spoke Lord Robbins and he made this decree 

He said "When the out-put rises, with you I will agree 

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

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

The miners they went home, they worked hard and well 

Their lungs filled with coal dust in the bosom of hell 

The out-put rose by fifteen, eighteen percent and more 

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

The miners they went, to get their hard earned prize 

They asked Lord Robbins for their pound a week rise 

Robbins wouldn't give a pound he wouldn't give ten bob 

He gave 'em seven and six and saing "Now get back to your jobs!" 

So come all you colliers, take heed what I say 

Don't believe Lord Robbins when he says he'll give fair pay 

He'll tell you to work hard and make the out- put rise 

But you'll get pie in the sky instead of a pound a week rise