I love writing musical lyrics and score. This song came to me in Columbus, Ohio, circa 1972. I had just watched a news article about a mine explosion that took 91 lives. I began to wonder why men would go down into a hole when they know the risks. It occurred to me that they just don’t believe they could be there when the cave-in happens.
If I Were Young & I Didn’t Know
Written by
James Frank
Daddy worked the mines, so I’m a miner
What I know, I learned from watching him
Momma hid the fear of losing love-ones
Mining takes its toll, nobody wins
Mining’s been a hard a fearful business
Sunlight never sees my face
But busted rock and picking through the rubble
Darkness is my life, it is my day
Silvermine explosion down in Kellogg
Ninety-three good men trapped alive
Two walked away with their sweethearts
Ninety-one others lost their lives
Refrain:
Well, I’ve worked/staked many a claim
And I’d do it all again
If I were young and I didn’t know
Mining’s what I know, don’t think of moving
Daddy taught me well before he passed
Since then, I’ve taught my sons the work of mining
When mining’s all you know, there’s no contrast (you live the past) future is the past
Argonaut Mine – 47 – August 27, 1922 – Jackson California
Speculator Mine – 168 – June 8, 1917 – Butte, Montana
Sunshine Mine – 91 – May 1972 – Kellogg, Idaho