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JACK MAYS and JIM CHAMPION Recorded Lithgow, 1973 Tune: When The Sheep are In The Fold, Jenny Dear SITE SOURCE: Mrs Susan Colley - Folklore Unit  Sung by Warren Fahey
When You Give That Tuppence back, Charlie DearIt is strike time in the dear old Lithgow Valley,The men on strike intend to do their best, A few scabs round the tyrant seem to rally - But there's not a spark of manhood in their breast. When the tyrant said he'd take them down for tuppence Like a spirit each man seemed to disappear As they said, "Farewell, they added, we'll return again When you give that tuppence back Charlie dear " CHORUS: When you give that tuppence back, Charlie, dear, We can then return to work with conscience clear. But as heaven's sky is blue We will never work for you Til you give that tuppence back, Charlie, dear. As we wander up and down old Lithgow Valley, The scenes of strife and want must give us pain, Standing for their rights like men of honour - Let us hope the struggle will not be in vain. Then we wander down the roadway to the furnace, And it makes us sad to see scabs working there - They'd be better in the churchyard safely sleeping Instead of being scabs for Charlie, dear. |
