I’m so glad you liked it, it’s one of my favourites, gritty & real life, I love their harmonies but then I am biased. I’ve passed your comments onto them & am sure they will be in touch.
Dear James, please could you clarify the authorship? I'd like to include Mining For Gold/Taku Miners in my 2022 singing project A Year in Folk Song, and want to get the credits right. Some sites list it as trad arranged by you (inc. my copy of Trinity Session), others solely by you, and others coming from Taku Miners - lyrics by Bill Lore (originally to the tune of Clementine/Irish Washerwoman). Any help would be brilliant! Best wishes from Manchester UK.
We are miners, hard rock miners, to the shaft house we must go. Pour your bottles on our shoulders, we are marching to the slow. On the line boys, on the line boys, drill your holes and stand in line. 'till the shift boss comes to tell you you must drill her out on top Can't you feel the rock dust in your lungs? It'll cut down a miner when he is still young. Two years and the silicosis takes hold and I feel like I'm dying from mining for gold. Yes, I feel like I'm dying from mining for gold. Well, a process man am I and I'm telling you no lie. I work and breath among the fumes that trail across the sky. There's a thunder all around me and a poison in the air, There's a lousy smell that smacks of hell and dust all in me hair And it's go boys, go They'll time your every breath and every day you're in this place you're two days nearer death but you go.... Well, I've worked among the spinners and breathe the oily smoke I've shovelled up the gypsum and it nigh on makes you choke I've stood knee deep in cyanide got sick with a caustic burn Been working rough I've seen enough to make your stomach turn And it's go boys go They'll time your every breath and every day you're in this place you're two days nearer death but you go... There's overtime and bonus opportunities galore The young lads like their money and the all come back for more But soon you're knocking on and you look older than you should For every bob made on this job you pay with flesh and blood And it's go boys go, They'll time your every breath and every day you're in this place you're two days nearer death but you go boys go, they'll time your every breath and every day you're in this place you're two days nearer death but you go.....
being from a mining town in Kentucky, and the only reason my grandparents didn't die young being that their parents raised the mules, this song always strikes deep
this is an absolutely haunting song, and I'm so thankful there's been a resurgence in these songs so I can share it with everyone. Huge thanks for the great quality vid!
It’s interesting hearing the difference between their version and Great Big Sea’s version. Some small lyric changes and some of the notes are different. Neither version is “wrong” because it’s a very old song that got passed down orally, but it’s interesting to note the differences
I could imagine hearing this being sung by a group of miners. I need to get some of my friends to come down into a mine with pickaxes and headlamps and just be singing this the whole time.
really wish they would do a studio version of chemical workers
Great big sea does 👌
ua-cam.com/video/RdfpDl5-d8c/v-deo.html
How's this one?
I'm going insane I swear I've heard them do it in a video or something and I can't find it
@@_Gart_ could it have been in a Twitch stream maybe?
Me too
I wanted to hear the longest johns sing Chemical worker, I'm happy I found this video.
Honoured that you sang my song.... awesome version. I’ve heard a lot of covers of this... one of the best!
I’m so glad you liked it, it’s one of my favourites, gritty & real life, I love their harmonies but then I am biased. I’ve passed your comments onto them & am sure they will be in touch.
Thank you so so much, that means so much coming from you! Truly adore Frobisher Bay as well
Dear James, please could you clarify the authorship? I'd like to include Mining For Gold/Taku Miners in my 2022 singing project A Year in Folk Song, and want to get the credits right.
Some sites list it as trad arranged by you (inc. my copy of Trinity Session), others solely by you, and others coming from Taku Miners - lyrics by Bill Lore (originally to the tune of Clementine/Irish Washerwoman). Any help would be brilliant!
Best wishes from Manchester UK.
We are miners,
hard rock miners,
to the shaft house we must go.
Pour your bottles
on our shoulders,
we are marching to the slow.
On the line boys,
on the line boys,
drill your holes and stand in line.
'till the shift boss
comes to tell you
you must drill her out on top
Can't you feel the rock dust in your lungs?
It'll cut down a miner when he is still young.
Two years and the silicosis takes hold
and I feel like I'm dying from mining for gold.
Yes, I feel like I'm dying from mining for gold.
Well, a process man am I
and I'm telling you no lie.
I work and breath among the fumes
that trail across the sky.
There's a thunder all around me
and a poison in the air,
There's a lousy smell
that smacks of hell
and dust all in me hair
And it's go boys, go
They'll time your every breath
and every day you're in this place
you're two days nearer death
but you go....
Well, I've worked among the spinners
and breathe the oily smoke
I've shovelled up the gypsum
and it nigh on makes you choke
I've stood knee deep in cyanide
got sick with a caustic burn
Been working rough
I've seen enough
to make your stomach turn
And it's go boys go
They'll time your every breath
and every day you're in this place
you're two days nearer death
but you go...
There's overtime and bonus opportunities galore
The young lads like their money
and the all come back for more
But soon you're knocking on
and you look older than you should
For every bob
made on this job
you pay with flesh and blood
And it's go boys go,
They'll time your every breath
and every day you're in this place
you're two days nearer death
but you go boys go,
they'll time your every breath
and every day you're in this place
you're two days nearer death
but you go.....
Thanks chief
being from a mining town in Kentucky, and the only reason my grandparents didn't die young being that their parents raised the mules, this song always strikes deep
this is an absolutely haunting song, and I'm so thankful there's been a resurgence in these songs so I can share it with everyone. Huge thanks for the great quality vid!
Glad you liked it it’s still one of my favourites. Follow the Longest Johns for much more content. Enjoy.
It’s interesting hearing the difference between their version and Great Big Sea’s version. Some small lyric changes and some of the notes are different. Neither version is “wrong” because it’s a very old song that got passed down orally, but it’s interesting to note the differences
Once again an amazing song, beautifully sung. Especially poignant song to a Welshman, strong mining heritage. Great job guys.
Dear God this recording makes me cry so hard but I cant stop listening to it on repeat.
I could imagine hearing this being sung by a group of miners. I need to get some of my friends to come down into a mine with pickaxes and headlamps and just be singing this the whole time.
Count me in!
A chemist and TLJ fan says thank you for this great video!
1:26 on thank me later, absolute gold!
Cheers mate
So good and so poignant
Hard to believe this was only 4 years ago...
I love the original by Great big sea, but these guys managed to make it their own.
Chemical Workers is actually not originally by Great Big Sea. It's much older than that.
I'm late, but Joe is correct. the song is from the 60s by Ron Angel, though I prefer Great Big Sea's version too :)
As a descendant of Cousin Jacks and Jennys who lived this life, this song touched me deeply
I work in a silver mine n we sing it sounds just like it minus the echo