Roger Bryant 1991
Inspired by closure of the last tin mines in Cornwall. The replacement of tin cans with aluminum and the use of protective coatings inside cans tanked demand for tin by the early 1980s, and in 1985 efforts to keep the price of tin at a level where mining was economical failed. In 1990, Geevor Mine, the second-to-last large tin mine in Cornwall and a large employer, closed. Shortly before this, Bryant recalls one summer visiting family and hearing the constant engine thrum of Russian factory ships out on the water 24/7 turning mackerel caught by Scottish trawlers into fish meal and carted away, boatload after boatload. That winter of 1990-91, Bryant was on a winter walk in Porthleven, and every house was shuttered with signs advertising vacation rentals, with not a person to be seen. All of this made him so angry, and the chorus of the song just came to him, and the rest of the song developed from there.
Chorus Well Cornish lads are fishermen And Cornish lads are miners too But when the fish and tin are gone what are the Cornish boys to do? From Newly town we used to sail Through rain and mist and lashing gale The mackerel shoals we hoped to find And soon we’ve left Land’s End behind We’ve searched the seven stones all around But not a sign or shoal we’ve found Round Island light is now in sight But Scillies are a barren ground The winding engines used to sing A melody to Cornish tin And Geevor lads they all would grin At pay day on a Friday The water now reclaims the mine And young men talk of old men’s time And go to work in gold or coal Or face a life upon the dole The hammer of the auction man Is the only sound we soon will hear And visitors will make the noise And order drinks from Cornish boys We’ll do as we have done before Go out to roam the wild world o’er Wherever sea or ship are found Or there’s a hole down underground