Lyrics
It's in the evenin after dark
Refers to the evening after dark.
When the blackleg miner creeps to work
Describes the blackleg miner heading to work surreptitiously.
With his moleskin pants an dirty shirt
Depicts the miner's attire - moleskin pants and a dirty shirt.
There goes the blackleg miner
Highlights the presence of the blackleg miner.
He takes his pick and doon he goes
Describes the miner picking and descending into the mine.
To hew the coal that lies below
Illustrates the purpose of the miner's descent - to extract coal.
But there's not a woman in this town row
Points out the lack of interest from women in the town towards the miner.
Would look at the black miner
Expresses the disregard or disdain from women for the black miner.
Oh, Delaval is a terrible place
Describes Delaval as an unfavorable place for the miner.
They rub wet clay in the blacklet's face
Details a hostile act - rubbing wet clay in the blackleg's face.
Around the pit-heaps they run a foot race
Depicts a foot race around pit-heaps to catch the blackleg miner.
To catch the blackleg miner
Emphasizes the pursuit and capture of the miner.
Divvn't gan near the Seghill mine
Advises against approaching the Seghill mine.
Across the way they stretch a line
Describes a line set up to catch and harm the miner.
To catch the throat an break the spine
Indicates a violent intention - breaking the spine of the blackleg miner.
Of the dirty blackleg miner
Reiterates the hostility towards the miner.
Tak your tools an gear as well
Instructs the miner to take tools and gear and throw them into the pit.
An hoy them doon the pit of hell
Commands the miner to descend into the pit (hell).
Doon ye go an fare ye well
Signals the miner's departure into the pit with a farewell.
Ye dirty blackleg miner
Reiterates the derogatory term for the miner.
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