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Blantyre Explosion
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By Clyde's bonnie banks as A sadly did wander
Amang the pit heaps as evenin drew nigh;
A spied a young lassie aa dressed in deep mournin
A-weepin an wailin wi mony's the sigh.
A stepped up beside her an thus did address her:
"Come tell me the cause o yer trouble an pain."
Sabbin an sighin, at last she did answer
"Johnnie Murphy, kind sir, wis ma ain true love's name."
"Twanty-wan years o age, fu o youth an guid lookin
Tae wark doun the mine at High Blantyre he came,
The weddin was fixed, aa the guests were invited
That calm simmer's evenin young Johnnie wis slain."
The explosion wis heard, aa the women an children
Wi pale anxious faces thae haste tae the mine.
Whan the news wis made out, the hills rang wi thair mournin
A hunderd an twanty young miners were slain.
Nou sweetherts an wives an sisters an brithers
That Blantyre explosion thae'll never forget;
An aa you young miners that hears ma sad story
Shed a tear for the miners wha're laid tae thair rest.
About an explosion at Dixon's mine at Blantyre on the 22nd of October 1877. The estimates of the number of miners killed vary, with the song putting it at 120 but other sources put it at over 200.
Help with language and pronunciation in the General Guide to Scots
True and Bold (1986)
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Song Index B
Blantyre Explosion