I left school at fourteen

My adulthood begun

They sent me down the dusty mines

Just like my daddy done

I went into the dirty pits

A life of molten black

A seam of coal beneath my knees

The world upon my back.

Half a mile I’d have to crawl

To cut that coal each day

From early in the morning

Til late I’d have to stay

I never knew the morning sun.

It’s warmth upon my face

Cos night-time’d come around again

Before I left that place.

A ton or more I’d cut each day

On my hands and knees

The smallest cog in what they call