The Coal Owners' Song (1875)
Hurrah ! let us laugh and the ruby wine quaff,While we join in our favourite toast
"With plenty of gold and our sway uncontrolled,
Coal owners shall rule o'er the roast." As the nation we gull, with our own coffers full,
Who shall dare to dispute our dominion ?
'Mid enjoyment and ease we shall act as we please,
And with scorn treat all public opinion. There are Lords in our band we can grasp by the hand,
For we're closely united by Mammon ;
Plenty Commoners too in the House to subdue
Every motion that's hostile with "gammon." In the Coal Committees we have trusty M.P.'s
Who the "nodles" beside them will cram
With their wonderful lies of demand and supplies
O ! the whole is a beautiful sham. The miners may strike, or may play if they like,
Till we add a few pence to each "score;"
It is well understood it is all for our good
We can then squeeze consumers the more. Let the paupers endure--they were born to be poor,
Shall we make a reduction to please them ?
Away with such stuff ! If they can't get enough,
Why, then, let the cold weather freeze them. If there's dulness of trade-well, our fortunes are made,
And we don't care a rush who goes under,
When we feel the desire, we can always retire
To estates which we've got with our plunder.
We are all moral men--we repeat that again--
For we're always at church on the Sunday,
Impressed with the notion that outward devotion
Will cloak all our misdeeds in one day. In our well-cushoned pews we can placidly muse,
And confess that "we're fortunate sinners" ;
Then, the short service o'er, we drive home as before,
To bless heaven for luxurious dinners. Then, hurrah ! let us laugh and the ruby wine quaff
While we join in our favourite toast
"With plenty of gold and our sway uncontrolled,
Coal owners shall rule o'er the roast." Richmond, Surrey. J. D. Notes From the NSW Newspaper The Miners' Advocate and Northumberland Recorder 20 Jan 1875 p. 4. Many thanks to Sandra Nixon for help with this old Industrial Song.