1984. Coal Hole Cavalry (Ted Edwards)

Ted Edwards, who was brought up in the coal mining community of Wigan, used to lie in bed as a small child and listen to all these early morning sounds around him, then imagine the miners in clogs as a cavalry charge, off to remove the Indians who'd taken over the mine during the night! The line "Get lost, Injuns", sometimes sung as "Look out, Injuns," should actually be "Bugger off, Injuns." Unfortunately I only discovered this after recording the song! This song was requested by Lee Moran, B Flight, 51 Sqn, Royal Air Force. Lyrics and chords: Em .................... D ................. Em Early morning, dreaming is shattered .................................... G .......... Em One clitter-clatter on t'flags outside ...................................... D .............. Em Old Knocker-Upper rat-tatting on t'window ..................... G .................. Em Making sure nobody's overlied. Em ............................. D Clittering, clattering, coal-hole cavalry Em ........... D ...... Em Galloping, rain or fine Em ............................ D Clittering, clattering, coal-hole cavalry Em ........... D ........... Em Galloping down to t'mine. Father yawning, drizzle on t'window More clitter-clattering coming down t'hill Stairs are creaking, oven door banging Father waiting for Uncle Bill. Mam is fillin' 'is bottle wi' wayter, Clatter-clitter-clatter an' rattle on t'latch. Clogs int'lobby an' talkin'quiet, Arguin' t'toss abeyt Sunday's match. Come on Billy lad, best get gooin', Clatter-clitter-clatter an' front door bang! Gooin' deyn to t'mucky owd coal pit, Hear t'pit-hat an' snap tin clang. Colliers ridin' a million horses, Clatter-clitter-clatter all over the world. Get lost injuns, cavalry's comin', Picks an' shovels an' banners unfurled. Buzzer's blowin, a sound of vict'ry, Clatter-clitter-clatter's over an' done. All t'world's quiet, an' sleep is comin' Wish I was a collier….. it must be fun. You can see a playlist of my mining songs here: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=PLCF909DA14CE415DF Lyrics and chords of many of my songs are no longer available, as my website has expired. I am currently posting lyrics to the information panels on all my videos and those that are too long to post in full will be found on my new website: https://raymondsfolkpage.wordpress.com

Added 12 Jun 2026