Miner's Lifeguard

A traditional American trade union song. The setting is an 1891 hymn tune by Charles Davis Tillman called "Life is Like a Mountain Railway", but the author of the lyrics is unknown.

The song has been reworked by numerous famous folk artists throughout the years, including Dick Gaughan who repopularized it on his 1986 album *True and Bold.* In his song archive, he notes that some of the lyrics were changed to make them more specific to the NUM Strike of 1984-85.

The Longest Johns sang it with El Pony Pisador both during their joint livestream in August 2018 and as a standalone video release on YouTube. An updated version was also included on The Longest Pony, released 21 March 2023.

## Lyrics

These lyrics are based on the version from the Longest Pony EP. The original lyrics can be found here.

>
> A miner's life is like a sailor's
>
> On board a ship to cross the waves
>
> Every day his life's in danger
>
> Many ventures being brave
>
> Watch the rocks, they're falling daily
>
> Careless miners always fail
>
> Keep your hand upon your wages
>
> And your eye upon the scale
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
> Union miners, stand together
>
> Do not heed the owner's tale
>
> Keep your hand upon your wages
>
> And your eye upon the scale
>
>
>
> You've been docked and docked again, boys
>
> You've been loading two for one
>
> What have you to show for working
>
> Since your mining day is done?
>
> Worn out boots and worn out miners
>
> Lungs of stone and children pale
>
> Keep your hand upon your wages
>
> And your eye upon the scale
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> In conclusion, bear in memory
>
> Keep this password in your mind
>
> Miners' strength cannot be broken
>
> When in union we combine
>
> Stand up all and stand together
>
> Victory shall for you prevail
>
> So keep your hand upon your wages
>
> And your eye upon the scale
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
>

## Recordings

#### Streaming/Purchase

* Amazon
* Anghami
* Apple Music/iTunes
* Deezer
* Spotify
* Tidal

#### YouTube Videos

* Music Video w/El Pony Pisador
* Album Animation

#### Gig Videos

* El Pony Pisador, Kimber's Men & TLJ at Yarmouth, 2017

#### Full Band Streams

* The Longest Johns and Friends, El Pony Pisador! (12 Aug 2018)
* TLJ Christmas Party!! (18 Dec 2019)
* Exstream Close-up (31 May 2022)
* Stream Girls (27 Apr 2023)

#### Chill Streams

* JD & Andy Chilltime - 13/01/2020
* JD & Andy Chilltime - 27/01/2020
* Welcome to Chillville! Population: Andy - 01/05/2020
* Welcome to Chillville. Drive safe! Playing mostly folk music... - 15/05/2020
* (bangs table) music music music music! - 11/09/2020
* It's time for mostly folk music with Andy! - 6/11/2020
* Late Night Super Folk Music Time! - 22/11/2020
* It's folk music time! New banjo! - 11/12/2020

#### Gaming Streams

* It's boat time! Sea of Sings! - 21/09/2020
* Sea of Sings! Yarr and all that... - 16/10/2020
* DROPS! Sea of Sings! with BehavingBeardly! SHANT! - 30/10/2020
* Sea of Sings! with Captain\_Falcore! SHANT! - 2/11/2020
* Sing what you want 'cause a streamer is free, You Are A Streamer! - 02/08/2021

1. ↑ https://hymnary.org/text/life\_is\_like\_a\_mountain\_railroad
2. ↑ https://mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=3984&SongID=3984
3. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20180823052719/http://www.dickgaughan.co.uk/songs/texts/minerslife.html