I was born in South Wellington my father he worked in that mine
My mother did laundry for the manager's wife she worked hard all of her life
My older brother he worked with my dad and one night they did not come home
An explosion took them to heaven and we were left on own.
Chorus
I remember the words of my father
Son don't work in that mine
The air is as black as number nine coal
Every breath will take some of your life
So we packed up and moved to Cumberland
Got a job at the Union Hotel
They let us a room off the alley
But my mother she did not fair well
For she longed for the love of her husband
And grieved for the loss of her son
One night the angels took her
And her mortal days were done.
Chorus
Now the alders have grown up on the railroad tracks
All the slag heaps are covered with moss
When those coal barons counted all their millions
Did they ever consider the cost
Now the ghost of old Dunsmuir still rattles around
In the halls of Craigdarroch Castle
All the money that he made on the miner's that he fleeced
Sure didn't buy him any peace
Chorus
Gonna live out my days in Royston
Let the sea breeze fill up my lungs
I remember my mother my father and my brother
In the words that I wrote them in this song
Chorus
Repeat last two lines of chorus
credits
from Diary of a Coaltown,
released June 21, 2008
Gordon Carter - Vocals and Guitar
Bob Romano - Mandolin
Australian singer-songwriter explores self-examination, loneliness, and post-pandemic malaise through delicate, empathetic folk pop. Bandcamp New & Notable May 5, 2024
The Alabama duo's fifth album exults in dusty Americana, showcasing rich vocal harmonies alongside blissful folk instrumentation. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 31, 2024
More contemplative folk from the Minnesota singer-songwriter, sustained by raw full-band arrangements and philosophical lyrics. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 28, 2024
Irish singer-songwriter Oisin Leech's acoustic folk music is characterized by its muted beauty and intimate, solitary quality. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 16, 2024