Lyrics Strike! - Ry Cooder

Strike!

Well I got off the train one evening in a little mining town
I started walking up the main street when the sun was going down
When I heard some voices singing, so I went to see what for
Might just be a birthday party, and it might be room for just one more
But it was miners and their families, they had left the mine that day
Walked out for safe conditions, on strike for decent pay
And they sang about their struggle, and their spirit never failed
Keep your hand upon the dollar and your eye upon the scale
Union miners stand together, heed no operator’s tale
Keep your hand upon the dollar and your eye upon the scale
Well all at once police came running, they came running everywhere
They broke up that miner’s meeting, and they carried everyone to jail
But the miners kept on singing and they sang the whole night through
When the sun rose in the morning I had learned that miners song
Now the judge he asked the police captain, What’s that red cat doin' here?
Get all the reds off the streets, sir, was your orders loud and clear
Now they turned me out of the jailhouse back door, but I wouldn’t leave my
miner friends
I jumped back to that jailhouse winder and I sang that miner songs again
Union miners stand together, heed no operator’s tale
Keep your hand upon the dollar and your eye upon the scale