Strike! Lyrics

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 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

[Chorus]
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 miners' meeting, 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

And the judge he asked the police captain, What's that red cat doing here?
Get all the reds off the street, 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 the jailhouse window and I sang that miner song again

Chorus