One Miner’s Life/Image of God lyrics

Now you are born, another to feed

Small are your wants lad, but great is your need

For the work is scarce, your dad's on the dole

And they want no more men 'cause they've got too much coal

Now you're a lad, you play in the street

Fishin’ the burn and performin' great feats

While the pitheid stands markin' the graves

Of miners and sons and the lives that they gave

Who knows who you're crying for

Who knows who made us so poor

Who knows what you're going to do

Who knows what's in store for you

Now you've left school, a man at thirteen

Your mother is grim as she looks at the scene

As she makes your bait [bed?], you're off down below

And away to the pit with your father you go

Who knows who you're crying for

Who knows who made us so poor

Who knows what you're going to do

Who knows what's in store for you

Now you're a man, you work in the mine

With fightin' and strugglin', you're old 'fore your time

For the work is hard, conditions are bad

And you promised your sons all that you've never had

Who knows who you're crying for

Who knows who made us so poor

Who knows what you're going to do

Who knows what's in store for you

***********

Crawlin' aboot like a snail in the mud,

Covered wi' clammy blae,

Me made after the image o' God

Is that no' laughable tae.

Howkin' away at a mountain o' stane,

Gaspin' for want o' air,

The sweat makin' streams doon my bare backbane,

And my knees a' hauckit and sair.

Strainin' and cursin' the hale shift through,

Half-starved, half-blin', half-mad,

And the gaffer he says, "Less dirt in that coal

Or ye go up the pit, my lad."

So I gie my life tae the Nimmo squad

For eight and four a day.

Me made after the image o' God

Is that no' laughable tae.

With the muck in my nails and a lungful of dust

I work in the dark all the day

So pardon me then if I don't gi' a smile

I'm made in His image, you see.

***********

Now you are old, you've worked all you can

But they're closin' the pits and it's part of their plan

It's to cut out the waste, make the mines pay

So to hell wi' you now lad, best be on your way