Ironmasters - The Men They Couldn't Hang

Oh this is an old story that’s rarely ever told

The raping of the country, of the valley

The men who came to reap with a musket and a bible

They wanted to take the valley

The valley!

the valley!

They wanted to take the valley

And oh the ironmasters, they always get their way

And so far a pittance all the people worked the land

All the men and the women and the children

And on sundays it was down to the chapel in the town

The preacher said give generously!

Give generously!

give generously!

The people they gave generously

And oh the ironmasters, they always get their way

The union met in secret on the dark side of the hill

By the light of a thousand candles

Their pay had been cut, all the people come on out

And by scores they were joining Rebecca

Rebecca!

Rebecca!

The people were joining Rebecca

And oh the ironmasters, they always get their way

Riot!

Ironmaster, call the army

Call the hungry from the irish sea

Ironmaster, call the parliament

It’s no sin to fight to be free!

From the smokey stacks of merthyr

To the hills of Ebbw vale

From Swansea docks to Merseyside and Liverpool

With the union leaders crushed

And the union quickly smashed

They blackend the face of the country

The country!

the country!

They blackend the face of the country

And oh the ironmasters, they always get their way

Now on a hill in Brecon is Crawshay’s ruined house

And it blackens out the green of the valley

And on the battered grave is the epitaph they gave

It stands there, god forgive him!

Forgive him!

forgive him!

And all who rot in hell with him

And oh the ironmasters, they always get their way

Riot!

Ironmaster, call the army

Call the hungry from the irish sea

Ironmaster, call the parliament

It’s no sin to fight to be free!

And oh the ironmasters, they always get their way

And oh the ironmasters, they still get their way!