Music: Anne Feeney
You've heard "Sixteen Tons" and "The Coal Tattoo”
In the coalfield danger is nothing new
Here's the question I'm putting to you
How much for the life of a miner?
lt should come as no surprise
You'll hear them spout the same old lies
Every time a miner dies
How much for the life of a miner?
Somewhere far away from here accountants will project
Actuaries speculate on causes and effect
No pesky regulations from the thieves that they elect
And auditor confirm the yield from their benign neglect
Each state has a price for a leg that's lost
Lose an arm or an ear-there's a preset cost
When the air goes bad and there’s no exhaust
How much for the life of a miner?
A slap on the wrist or even a fine
Reversed on appeal on down the line
"An act of God,"the courts opine.
How much for the life of a miner?
Politicians posture at the mine face solemnly
Live reporters swarm like flies around the tragedy
Preachers will proclaim the Lord behaves mysteriously
And PR spokesmen orchestrate deniability
And then their widows, sons anddaughters come to you and me
And ask "How much for the life of a miner?
How much for the life of a miner?"