Bla'an'tir's Ain Website

Search Bla'an'tir's Ain Website

When Darkness Fell (a miners tribute)

Hi Bill,

My Name is Jim Donnelly i am a songwriter from Blantyre,i recently wrote a song about the Blantyre mining disaster,its called (when darkness fell) this song was recorded by Drew Semple.

Jim
copyright words and music
by Jim Donnelly

when darkness fell (a miners tribute)

its was on the morning of october twenty two
when darkness fell on blantyre from mine shafts one and two
many people stood around as tears filled up their eyes
two hundred and seven people working there all died

the youngest being a kid he was eleven years of age
rescue bids were thwarted even at this earley stage
the blast was heard for miles around the dense smoke filled the sky
the fiery mine as it was known had blown from deep inside

the history books will tell us everybody who has died
but none of them can ever tell the pain that hurt inside
the ninety two girls widowed and the children left behind
the day the darkness fell upon this dear old town of mine
work continued through the night and into the next day
body after body coming up from the coal face
it took around a week or so before the mine was clear
how joseph gilmours guarantee had now become a fear
men and boys who left that day at five thirty am
had no idea that on there way they won't come home again
the fears they had the year before would soon becoming true
eight forty five and still alive before them two shafts blew

the history books will tell us everybody who has died
but none of them can ever tell the pain that hurt inside
the ninty two girls widowed and the children left behind
the day the darkness fell upon this dear old town of mine

everybody on the face went running to the sound
knowing there was many people trapped there underground
seven bodies near the top where pulled out right away
many years have come and gone since blantyres tragedy

miners were complaining fearing safety for their lives
but william dixons colliery was never on their side
a wage rise was refused to them for risking life and like
and sacking it was imminent for those who went on strike

the history books will tell us everybody who has died
but none of them can ever tell the pain that hurt inside
the ninety two girls widowed and the children left behind
the day the darkness fell upon this dear old town of mine
the day the darkness fell upon this dear old town of mine

 

l Home l Advertise l Disclaimer l Privacy l Email l