They say it’s easy money
A full page ad in the local rag,
Always nice and sunny.
Come on lad, and pack your bag.
It’s off to West Australia.
Leave the old hometown behind.
Be a winner, not a failure.
There’s money to be made in the Wittenoom Mine.
Day in, day out, everyday they drive us harder.
Day in, day out, they’re getting away with blue murder.
They took me to my quarters,
A stinking bed in an old tin shed.
Got my working orders,
With a lamp, and tin hat on my head.
Day in, day out, everyday they drive us harder.
Day in, day out, they’re getting away with blue murder.
My girl she’s a cook and a cleaner.
Works all day in the canteen hall.
Six days since I’ve seen her.
Some don’t have no girl at all.
Day in, day out, everyday they drive us harder.
Day in, day out, they’re getting away with blue murder.
Sweeps the fine blue dust up.
Tips it into an old wool pack.
Never had a check-up.
If she did she’d get the sack
Day in, day out, everyday they drive us harder.
Day in, day out, they’re getting away with blue murder.
I feel my health is failing
Working down in the thick blue dust.
The kids play in the tailings.
The boss says work, and work I must.
Day in, day out, everyday they drive us harder.
Day in, day out, they’re getting away with blue murder.
A full page ad in the local rag,
Always nice and sunny.
Come on lad, and pack your bag.
It’s off to West Australia.
Leave the old hometown behind.
Be a winner, not a failure.
There’s money to be made in the Wittenoom Mine.
Day in, day out, everyday they drive us harder.
Day in, day out, they’re getting away with blue murder.
They took me to my quarters,
A stinking bed in an old tin shed.
Got my working orders,
With a lamp, and tin hat on my head.
Day in, day out, everyday they drive us harder.
Day in, day out, they’re getting away with blue murder.
My girl she’s a cook and a cleaner.
Works all day in the canteen hall.
Six days since I’ve seen her.
Some don’t have no girl at all.
Day in, day out, everyday they drive us harder.
Day in, day out, they’re getting away with blue murder.
Sweeps the fine blue dust up.
Tips it into an old wool pack.
Never had a check-up.
If she did she’d get the sack
Day in, day out, everyday they drive us harder.
Day in, day out, they’re getting away with blue murder.
I feel my health is failing
Working down in the thick blue dust.
The kids play in the tailings.
The boss says work, and work I must.
Day in, day out, everyday they drive us harder.
Day in, day out, they’re getting away with blue murder.
Contributed by Dq82 - 2017/7/21 - 21:58
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Saturday Johnny & Jimmy the Rat – Hulett and Swarbrick
Blue Murder’ was one of two songs he wrote about the suffering of those who worked in the blue asbestos mine in Wittenoom, Western Australia. Countless miners and their families who paid with their health and lives after being exposed to lethal asbestos fibres, a health hazard well known to those who ran the mine.
Alistair originally wrote the song for a play while still in Roaring Jack. He eventually recorded it for his third solo album “Saturday Johnny & Jimmy the Rat”, together with folk legend Dave Swarbrick on fiddle!