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Colliers and Kids

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A collier's to be found

A mile underground

And not in the sunlight like other hominids

Though he loves his mates and wife

His would cut them like a knife

There's no humour crueller than colliers and kids.

 

A fat kid hears the cries

“Who ate all the pies?”

Or maybe “Specky Four-Eyes” God forbid;

But are a Yorkshire miner's

Manners any finer

There's no humour crueller than colliers and kids.

 

They'll issue small pit boots

To young and green recruits

And kid them that at 3am they broadcast porno vids

Next day it's no surprise

To see their bleary eyes

There's no humour crueller than colliers and kids.

 

If you should close your eyes

Prepare for some surprise

'Cos while you're dreaming of the Pyramids

Something warm and wet, I fear,

Will nuzzle in your ear;

There's no humour crueller than colliers and kids.

 

He treasures dignity

And detests authority

But grudgingly does as the Overman bids

Though he'll piss in his hard hat

For laughs – no more than that

Cos there's no humour crueller than colliers and kids.

 

They'll goad the Deputy

And enjoy his misery

They'll watch a grown man cry 'cos his snaptin they'll have hid

And any mate they'll hound

Whose wife has played around

Cos there's no humour crueller than colliers and kids.

  

But when the chips are down

When danger's all around

I'd stake my life or a million quid

You'd sooner share your plight

With mining men, despite

There's no humour crueller than colliers and kids.

◄ The Pit and the Pendulum

70m Dash ►

Comments

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Dave Bradley

Fri 17th Dec 2010 19:46

How did I miss this. Excellent.

Enjoyed your contributions at the Tudor last night too, John

<Deleted User> (8672)

Tue 14th Dec 2010 19:31

I think this is magnificent, John. It's Northern English social history in a nutshell. No nonsense northern grit! Beautifully written and spoken. A gem, in my view.

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