Hillcrest Mine

Down in the mines of the Crowsnest Pass It's the men that die in labour Sweating coal from the womb of the pit It's the smell of life they savour And in that mine, young man, you'll find A wealth of broken dreams -- As long and as dark and as black and as wide As the coal in the Hillcrest seam. And they say you don't go, Say you don't go down in the Hillcrest Mine, And they say you don't go, Say you don't go down in the Hillcrest Mine 'Cause it's one short step, You might leave this world behind, And they say you don't go, Say you don't go down in the Hillcrest Mine. I've heard it whispered in the light of dawn That mountain sometimes moves. That bodes ill for the morning shift And you know what you're gonna lose. Don't go, my son, where the deep coal runs. Turn your back to the mine on the hill 'Cause if the dust and the dark and the gas don't getcha, Then the goons and the bosses will. Say you don't go, Say you don't go down in the Hillcrest Mine, Say you don't go, Say you don't go down in the Hillcrest Mine 'Cause it's one short step, You might leave this world behind, Say you don't go, Say you don't go down in the Hillcrest Mine. And they say you don't go! Well son, I'm gonna open up I'm gonna have my say You'll get no peace from the Hillcrest Mine 'Cept the peace of an early grave Go out and work for the workers' rights Go work for the workers' needs Don't stay down here to toil for your buck To be a tool for the owner's greed Say you don't go, Say you don't go down in the Hillcrest Mine, Say you don't go, Say you don't go down in the Hillcrest Mine 'Cause it's one short step, You might leave this world behind, Say you don't go, Say you don't go down in the Hillcrest Mine. And they say you don't go, Say you don't go down in the Hillcrest Mine, Say you don't go, Say you don't go down in the Hillcrest Mine 'Cause it's one short step, You might leave this world behind, Say you don't go, Say you don't go down in the Hillcrest Mine.