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Stay Down Below

by Corrie Shelley

supported by
Chris West
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about

Written for a documentary about the Huskar Pit Disaster that claimed the lives of 26 children in 1838.

In 1842 The Royal Commission of Enquiry into the Conditions of Children employed in Mines and Collieries produced a Report, which was later to become The Mines Act.

Lord Ashley, later to become the 8th Earl of Shaftesbury, proposed a Bill “to make Regulations respecting the age and sex of children and young persons employed in the Mines and Collieries of the United Kingdom” which prohibited, amongst other restrictions, the employment underground of all females and males below the age of 10 years.

lyrics

Mi name is George Lamb and I'm 8 years old
I work down the pit at Huskar Silkstone
12 hours in the dark, I'm a trapper you see
and I'm teachin young Joseph, who's on his day three

We'd all had such fun a few days ago
playin up in the parklands the sun were a glow
the Clarkes closed the mine a party to hold
for our Queen Victoria to sit on her throne

The day started the same as days gone before
full of sunshine and birdsong we were worked to the core
but a storm were a brewin way over the hill
and rivers and streams, flood waters did fill

The noise of the thunderclap filled us with fear
Isacc and Abrahams eyes filled with tears
they thought they were goin to die like their da
from a firedamp explosion that eats all the air

Dad said, Stay Down Below
we ignored his advice
now this grave is our home
cos we feared for our lives

We all ran to the drift to make our escape
not far to climb we could see the daylight
it all happened so fast the water it came
swept over our bodies, our souls it did claim

Dad said, Stay Down Below
we ignored his advice
now this grave is our home
cos we feared for our lives

Catherine, Elizabeth, Hannah and Ann
lie side by side, all holding hands
Ellen, Elizabeth and Hannah too
lie next to them in grave number 2

Two Sarahs they lie with Mary their friend
with Elizabeth Clarkson the oldest of them
she's laid at the feet of her brother James
A monument stands, displaying our names

Brothers together, Isacc and Abe
with George and Joseph the youngest in age
Francis, William, Samuel and John
William and Eli and James are all gone

John,George and finally me
lie next to them under the tree
Mi name is George Lamb I'll stay 8 years old
I died down the pit at Huskar Silkstone

Dad said, Stay Down Below
we ignored his advice
now this grave is our home
cos we feared for our lives

26 children make not a sound
lie side by side, deep in the ground
no more a playin out in the sun
together forever, our time is done.

credits

released July 4, 2021

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Corrie Shelley Lancashire, UK

Corrie Shelley is a Folk Singer Songwriter from Lancashire UK.

Corrie writes from the heart and doesn't shy away from any subject matter, every song has a personal meaning to them and her voice transports you through the ages right up to the present day. ... more

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