Black Miner

In the year of '98

The Julian mine became our grave

Forty of us couldn't come upstairs

Of the dirty black leg miners



Forty wives and children were

Left alone in these hard years

We tried to help them how we could

We're dirty black leg miners



Two months later came to us

Bob McLean to tell 'bout the trust

Told us we should fight for the rights

Of the dirty black leg miners



It was the first time we've heard

How to found a union here

Next day we began the strike

For the dirty black leg miners



We were striking 14 weeks

Before police with guns showed up

112 were killed by them

Of the dirty black leg miners



They were hanging Bob McLean

And we started work again

This strike was down but we are strong

We're dirty black leg miners



In the year of '98

The mining trust became our fate

The weight of work now breaks the backs

Of the dirty black leg miners



In the future hopefully

Our children all will tell the tale

How Bob McLean laid down his life

For the dirty black leg miners