Lyrics

Blow Boss Whistle, Blow

Boss whistle blew on the day they arrived
To work in the cold, dark mine
Blew long and hard on the day they died
Big explosion nineteen-o-nine
Blow boss whistle blow

They came from Scotland proud and strong
To work in the Dunsmuir mine
The ones the explosion didn’t kill
Met the afterdamp in the dark and the still
Blow boss whistle, blow

Chorus:

Thirty-two dead in Extension mine
Blow boss whistle, blow
Thirteen widows, relief fund line
Blow boss whistle, blow boss whistle, blow

Fish oil lamps in Extension mine
No safety lamp found here
Dust and gas fuel an open flame tomb
Dead mules lying in the cold black gloom
Blow boss whistle, blow

Thirty-eight standing in the orphan line
There’s thirty-two dead in the Dunsmuir’s mine
Thirteen widows left behind
Eight days goin’ back to the grind
Blow boss whistle, blow

Whistle blows once there’s work tomorrow
Blows twice there’s none
We eat when we work, by luck, by chance
At the mercy of the Dunsmuir son
Blow boss whistle, blow

Extension mine killed a hundred and four
By the time they shut it down
Boss whistle blew as a closing sign
There ain’t no heir for the Dunsmuir mine
Blow boss whistle blow