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The Miner’s Lullaby

[ Roud - ; Matt McGinn]

Norman Buchan and Peter Hall: The Scottish Folksinger

Cilla Fisher and Artie Trezise sang A Miner’s Lullaby (Coorie Doon) in 1986 on their Kettle album Reaching Out.

Christina Stewart sang The Miner’s Lullaby on her 2010 album of lullabies from Scottish tradition, Kist o Dreams. She noted:

Matt McGinn is probably best known for his satirical songs, which carry a distinctly left wing sensibility. He was a prolific songwriter who embraced the Scottish folk song revival of the 1960s, as well as being an actor, poet and activist. The Miner’s Lullaby is a subtle composition.

This is my version of Matt McGinn’s song which varies only slightly from the original. I was unaware when I saw the original in The Scottish Folksinger that it was such a recently written song. It has established a place in the oral tradition which is where I learned it and why it has evolved.

Lyrics

Cilla Fisher and Artie Trezise sings A Miner’s Lullaby (Coorie Doon)

Lie still my dear, and in your ear
To help you close your eyes
I’ll sing a song, a slumber song
A miner’s lullaby

Yer Daddy’s doon the mine, my darlin’
Doon in the Curblie Main
And he’s howkin’ coal for you, my darlin’
For his ain wee waen

There’s darkness doon the mine, my darlin’
Darkness, dust and damp
But we must hae oor heat, oor light
Oor fire and oor lamp

Yer Daddy coories doon, my darlin’
Doon in a three fit seam
So you can coorie doon, my darlin’
Coorie doon and dream

Christina Stewart sings The Miner’s Lullaby

Chorus (twice after each verse):
Coorie doon, coorie doon, coorie doon, my darling
Coorie doon, my dear

Coorie doon my dear an’ in yer ear,
While stars light up the sky,
I’ll sing a song, a slumber song,
A miner’s lullaby

Yer daddy’s in the darkness darling,
Darkness, dust and damp,
So we may hie oor milk, oor meal,
Oor fire an’ oor lamp

Yer daddy’s howkin’ coal my darling,
Doon the Kirby main
Yer daddy’s howkin’ coal my darlin’,
For his ain wee wean

Yer daddy coories doon my darling,
Doon in a three fit seam
So we may coorie doon my darling,
Coorie doon an’ dream

Coorie doon my dear an’ in yer ear,
While stars light up the sky,
I’ll sing a song, a slumber song,
A miner’s lullaby