Lyrics

[Verse 1] Well, friends, hereby hangs a tale The year was 1931 A good job digging for the king While there's so many on the bum I've done my time across in France Fought in Moreaux and at Vimy Done my service for my country Thought I'd put the guns behind me [Verse 2] I should've know it from the start Peace may be signed between two nations But for protection of your rights My friends, its always battle stations And so it was the union boys Set up shop there in the coalfields Said that they would be our voice Said that they would be our shield [Instrumental] [Verse 3] They said just a little march Across the town and past the station Some fine strong speakers and a band A fairly peaceful congregation Let them know that we were strong Show them we could be united Show them we had found our voice And that we would not be frightened [Verse 4] I should've known it from the start Workers marching makes them nervous I saw no menace in our group Peaceful of heart and stout of purpose The local peelers were forewarned It's sure as hell the were forearmed How could we cause them any trouble? How could they be so alarmed? [Instrumental] [Verse 5] Armed with truncheons and with guns They took their line across the road Their faces cast in stone I heard the call to aim and load Saw the deadly muzzle flash Saw the people drop around me Took a bullet to the leg My friends, and that is how they found me [Verse 6] I should've know it from the start Should've seen the trouble coming Seen the ugly twist of fate Turned my tail and started running Known when push has come to shove And its a heavy hand that feeds you That the job that was was your life Becomes the job that slowly beats you [Bridge] No use, no use for the ranting of a government man No use for their fine print and their fountain pen No use, no use in me denying This small rebellion's over but I'm leaving here unbowed [Instrumental] [Verse 7] And when the dust had finally cleared When all dissent had been put down I packed my life in two worn bags Caught the train and left the town In this case, justice sure was blind At least blind to human suffering They said they'd put us in our place And I guess they weren't bluffing [Verse 8] I should've known it from the start It's not the truth that really matters The real world tramples on such things Leaves your mental state in tatters Makes the blowing prairie dust Seems like it is stationary Makes the proudest person humble And the strongest person wary Makes the proudest person humble And the strongest person wary