Steeleye Span
Steeleye Span
Steeleye Span
Steeleye Span
Steeleye Span
Steeleye Span
Steeleye Span
Steeleye Span
Steeleye Span
Steeleye Span
Steeleye Span
Steeleye Span
The song is believed to date from the nationwide 1844 miners lockout, naming the Northumbrian villages of Seaton Delavel and Seghill specifically.
[Verse 1]
It's in the evening after dark
When the blackleg miner creeps to work
With his moleskin pants and dirty shirt
There goes the blackleg miner
[Verse 2]
Well he grabs his duds and down he goes
To hew the coal that lies below
There's not a woman in this town row
Will look at the blackleg miner
[Verse 3]
Oh Delaval is a terrible place
They rub wet clay in the blackleg's face
And around the heaps they run a foot race
To catch the blackleg miner
[Verse 4]
And divvnt gan near the Seghill mine
Across the way they stretch a line
To catch the throat and break the spine
Of the dirty blackleg miner
[Verse 5]
They grab his duds and his picks as well
They hoy him down to the pit of hell
Down you go and fare ye well
You dirty blackleg miner
[Verse 1]
It's in the evening after dark
When the blackleg miner creeps to work
With his moleskin pants and dirty shirt
There goes the blackleg miner
[Verse 6]
So join the union while you may
Don't wait till your dying day
For that may not be far away
You dirty blackleg miner
Blackleg Miner was written by Traditional.
Blackleg Miner was produced by Steeleye Span & Sandy Roberton.