This is a song about a mining disaster that happened on the west coast of the south island of New-Zealand 118 years ago. On Thursday March 26th 1896 at 9:30am in the Brunner Mine there was a build up of firedamp deep inside the mine, it ignited, causing an explosion and resulting in the worst mining disaster that New-Zealand has ever seen, killing all 65 people, men and boys within the mine. In the last verse there is a man mentioned by the name of John Roberts, he was one of the miners in the mine on that day, although what sets him apart from all others was that all 3 of his sons were in there with him, all of whom perished tragically. As the song suggests the mine was located on the bank of the Grey River, near to the town of Brunner, it was accompanied along with several other mines which were put there after that area was found by Thomas Brunner to be very rich in high quality coal, which is why along with the fact that several mines were located there that the area gained the nickname Coal Gorge Despite the disaster the mine did not actually close until the 1930s, today the remains of the mine can still be seen although the mouth of the mine is very overgrown and cannot be accessed, the cemetery can also be seen where a lot of the miners were buried in a large mass grave. As far as I know, there is no other song about this disaster, lets call this song a memorial to those people. Here are the Lyrics: On the banks of the Grey River, a coal mine did lay the men would work their bodies raw to seek their weekly pay the coal was rich and pure, or so the owners tell but now it is the sight where 65 miners fell. To the dearly loved husband, a loving wife did call Dont go down in the Brunner Mine, the black rocks will fall all it takes is a miners lamp to that day be lit and the firedamp will explode and youll be buried in the pits. Now John, John Roberts, listen to what I say save us from this grieving, save us from this dismay dont go down in the Brunner Mine youre childrens lives it will slay dont go down in the Brunner Mine, there must be a better way. https://youtube/watch?v=sDijsOYRrco
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 21:47:00 +0000
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