I love writing musical lyrics and score. \u00a0This song came to me in Columbus, Ohio, circa 1972. \u00a0I had just watched a news article about a mine explosion that took 91 lives. \u00a0I began to wonder why men would go down into a hole when they know the risks. \u00a0It occurred to me that they just don’t believe they could be there when the cave-in happens.<\/p>\n
If I Were Young & I Didn\u2019t Know<\/b><\/p>\n
Written by<\/p>\n
\u00a0James Frank<\/p>\n
\u00a0Daddy worked the mines, so I\u2019m a miner<\/p>\n
What I know, I learned from watching him<\/p>\n
Momma hid the fear of losing love-ones<\/p>\n
Mining takes its toll, nobody wins<\/p>\n
Mining’s been a hard a fearful business<\/p>\n
Sunlight never sees my face<\/p>\n
But busted rock and picking through the rubble<\/p>\n
Darkness is my life, it is my day<\/p>\n
Silvermine explosion down in Kellogg<\/p>\n
Ninety-three good men trapped alive<\/p>\n
Two walked away with their sweethearts<\/p>\n
Ninety-one others lost their lives<\/p>\n
Refrain:<\/p>\n
Well, I\u2019ve worked\/staked many a claim<\/p>\n
And I\u2019d do it all again<\/p>\n
If I were young and I didn’t know<\/p>\n
Mining\u2019s what I know, don\u2019t think of moving<\/p>\n
Daddy taught me well before he passed<\/p>\n
Since then, I\u2019ve taught my sons the work of mining<\/p>\n
When mining\u2019s all you know, there\u2019s no contrast (you\u00a0live the past) future is the past<\/p>\n
Argonaut Mine \u2013 47 \u2013 August 27, 1922 \u2013 Jackson California<\/p>\n
Speculator Mine \u2013 168 \u2013 June 8, 1917 \u2013 Butte, Montana<\/p>\n
Sunshine Mine \u2013 91 \u2013 May 1972 – Kellogg, Idaho<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I love writing musical lyrics and score. \u00a0This song came to me in Columbus, Ohio, circa 1972. \u00a0I had just watched a news article about a mine explosion that took 91 lives. \u00a0I began to wonder why men would go down into a hole when they know the risks. \u00a0It occurred to me that they … <\/p>\n