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Albert Berry and the Coal

from Songs by Ed, Will and Ginger

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about

This song is about the opposition between any miner and every coal-face he digs. It was written by a man who walked solo across the Sahara, and who nearly went to space (seperate occasions).

It is a great song, a tragic circling battle, the cycle of humanity’s relationship with the world, and our endless quest for natural resources. It shows the coal as an angry sort of fellow, very protective of his presence, and bitter at the invasion to his seams.

Albert, on the other hand, is a stoic, unyielding man who wants simply to get the job done. There is a canny role reversal - at times, the coal feels more human in his trickery and triumph, and Albert seems more like the natural resource that is stolid, implacable, and constantly regenerating.

lyrics

To the coal went Albert Berry,
Drill of iron in his hand,
Off to fight another battle,
For the people of this land.

Said the coal to Albert Berry,
“For forty years you’ve been a man,
You took away the best part of me,
Today I’ll kill you if I can.”

Albert took his drill of iron
And he drilled himself a hole,
“For forty years you’ve tried to kill me,”
Said Albert Berry to the coal

Said the coal to Albert Berry,
“I have scarred your back with blue,
And your lungs are black and tattered,
Today I’ll make an end of you.”

Albert took the shot and wire,
Plunged them deep into the hole,
“Do your worst, you black old devil,”
Said Albert Berry to the coal

Said the coal to Albert Berry,
As he pushed the plunger deep,
“I will make your wife a widow
I will your children weep.”

A ton of dirt flew down the tunnel,
As Albert crouched into a hole,
“So you didn’t get me this time,”
Said Albert Berry to the coal.

Albert stepped into the tunnel,
But he didn’t hear the sound
As a ton of dirt and rubble
Crushed Albert Berry to the ground.

Said the coal to Albert Berry,
As Albert’s blood seeped to the floor,
“Men have always won the battle
But I will always win the war.”

Said the ghost of Albert Berry,
“Out of every bag of coal,
There’ll be other Albert Berrys,”
Said Albert Berry to the coal.

credits

from Songs, released January 1, 2010
Written by Ted Edwards, arr. EWG

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A Walk Around Britain UK

Wayfaring songs from journeys on foot around Britain.

With Ed, Will & Ginger. And others.

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