(With apologies to L.S.Lowrie)

​

They went to work and spent their time

Working hard deep down the mine

In parts of Sutton where I used to play.

​

I’d see them walking down our street

With caps on their head and clogs on their feet

The clothes they wore had all seen better days

​

Now they said these men are some of those

Who walk around in ragged clothes

But mine folk didn’t care much anyway

These men just walked in caps and clogs

With a smile on their face and worn out togs

And that, my friend, was just the way they’d stay

​

They were mining men with their matching caps and clogs

They passed us kids on the corner of the street

With our cats and dogs

They would take their snap and wait, outside the colliery gate

With other mining men with matching caps and clogs.

​

The end of the day with coal black skin

We’d follow and call after him

To come on down and show your old flat cap

We said tell us about your ways

And all about your mining days

Is it true you’re just an ordinary chap

​

And they were mining men with matching caps and clogs

They passed kids on the corner of the street with their cats and dogs

Now he takes his snap and waits

Outside the colliery gates

For other mining men with matching caps and clogs.

​

Now his lamp is hung up on the wall

Amongst the greatest of them all

And even Mona Lisa takes a bow

​

This tired old man with hair like snow

Told mining friends ‘It’s time to go’

The pneumo came and the good Lord mopped his brow

​

And they were mining men with matching caps and clogs

They passed kids on the corner of the street with their cats and dogs

Now he takes his snap and waits

Outside the colliery gates

For other mining men with matching caps and clogs.

​

And he left the mining men with matching caps and clogs

He left us kids on the corner of the street

With our cats and dogs

​

Then he took his lamp and waits

Outside the pearly gates

With mining men in matching caps and clogs.

​

And he left the mining men with matching caps and clogs

He left us kids on the corner of the street

With our cats and dogs

 

Then he took his lamp and waits

Outside the pearly gates

For mining men in matching caps and clogs.

 

And he left the mining men with matching caps and clogs

He left us kids on the corner of the street

With our cats and dogs

 

Then he took his lamp and waits

Outside the pearly gates

For mining men in matching caps and clogs.

 

These men just walked in caps and clogs

With a smile on their face

And worn out togs

And that was just the way they’d always stay.