Strike!

Well I got off the train one evening in a little mining town

I started walking up the main street when the sun was going down

When I heard some voices singing

So I went to see what for

Might just be a birthday party

And it might be room for just one more

But it was miners and their families

They had left the mine that day

Walked out for safe conditions

On strike for decent pay

And they sang about their struggle

And their spirit never failed

Keep your hand upon the dollar and your eye upon the scale

Union miners stand together

Heed no operator's tale

Keep your hand upon the dollar and your eye upon the scale

All at once police came running

They came running everywhere

They broke up that miner's meeting

And they carried everyone to jail

But the miners kept on singing and they sang the whole night through

When the sun rose in the morning I had learned that miners song

Now the judge he asked the police captain

What's that red cat doin' here

Get all the reds off the streets

Sir was your orders loud and clear

Now they turned me out of the jailhouse back door

But I wouldn't leave my miner friends

I jumped back to that jailhouse winder and I sang that miner songs again

Union miners stand together

Heed no operator's tale

Keep your hand upon the dollar and your eye upon the scale