Down the Mine

There's a song in old Formosa that the Nipponese loudly sing

In the billets every evening, you should hear the music ring

Now they sing to British soldiers who've travelled from afar

To fight for king and country, now they're prisoners of war

But they know they'll see their homeland in the future once again

Now listen while I sing to you the Nipponese refrain

Down the mine, bonny laddies, down the mine you'll go

Though your feet are lacerated, you dare not answer no

Though the rice is insufficient and we treat you all like swines

Down the mine, bonny laddies, down the mine

Now the boys were fairly happy till one cold and cloudy day

When the busho douro he came out and he to them did say

"Now I expect you all are wondering why you're out on this parade

The reason is you must be taught the Taiwan serenade"

Down the mine, bonny laddies, down the mine you'll go

Though your feet are lacerated, you dare not answer no

Though the rice is insufficient and we treat you all like swines

Down the mine, bonny laddies, down the mine

You should see us work with shankos and we work with baskets too

Though the method is old fashioned, to the boys it's something new

And we work away with patience till the dawn of freedom's day

But until then the Nippon men will all be heard to say

Down the mine, bonny laddies, down the mine you'll go

Though your feet are lacerated, you dare not answer no

Though the rice is insufficient and we treat you all like swines

Down the mine, bonny laddies, down the mine