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The Big Hewer

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Aminor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Verse 1]
AmOut of the dirt Dand darkness I was E7born, go dAmown!
AmOut of the hard black coEmalface I was tAmorn, go dE7own!
CKicked on the world and the earth split open
E7Crawled through a cAmrack where the roGck was brAmoken
DmBurrowed a hoAmle, awDmay in the E7coal, go dAmown!
[Verse 2]
AmIn a cradle of Dcoal in the darkness I was lE7aid, go doAmwn!
AmDown in the dirt and darEmkness I was raAmised, go E7down!
CCut me teeth on a five-foot timber
E7Held up the Amroof with my Glittle fiAmnger
DmStarted me tiAmme awaDmy in the mE7ine, go doAmwn!
[Verse 3]
AmOn the day that I was Dborn I was six feet E7tall, go dAmown!
AmAnd the very next day I Emlearned the way to Amhaul, go E7down!
COn the third day worked at board and piller
E7Worked on the foAmurth as a loGng-wall fAmiller
DmGetting me stAmeam up, hDmewing the E7seam, go dAmown!
[Verse 4]
AmI'm the son of the son Dof the son of a collierE7's son, go Amdown!
AmCoal dust runs in the veEmins where the blood should Amrun, go E7down!
CFive steel ribs and an iron backbone
E7Teeth that can bAmite through roGck and blAmackstone
DmWorking me tiAmme, away Dmin the minE7e, go downAm!
[Verse 5]
AmThree hundred yearDs I hewed at the coal by E7hand, go Amdown!
AmIn the pits of DurEmham and East NorthumberAmland, go E7down!
CBeen gassed and burned and blown asunder
E7Buried more tAmimes than GI can numAmber
DmGetting the cAmoal, away Dmin the hoE7le, go dowAmn!
[Verse 6]
AmI've scrabbled and picDked at the face where the roof was E7low, go dAmown!
AmCrawled in the seaEmms where only a mole could Amgo, go dE7own!
CIn the thin-cut seams I've ripped and redded
E7Where even the rAmats are boGrn bow-leAmgged
DmWinning the cAmoal, away Dmin the hoE7le, go dowAmn!
[Verse 7]
AmI've worked in the HutDton, the Plessey, the Brockwell E7Seam, go Amdown!
AmThe Bensham, the BusEmty, the Beaumont, the Marshall AmGreen, go E7down!
CI've lain on me back in the old three-quarter
E7Up to the cAmhin in stiGnking watAmer
DmHewing the coAmal, awDmay in the E7hole, go dAmown!
[Verse 8]
AmIn the northern pits ID've sweated and earned mE7e pay, go Amdown!
AmToiled in the worn-out dEmrift mines night and Amday, go dE7own!
CWhere the anthracite is hard and shining
E7I've tried me haAmnd at the haGrd-rock mAmining
DmI dug me a Amhole awaDmy in the cE7oal, go doAmwn!
[Verse 9]
AmOut of the dirt and daDrkness I was bE7orn, go doAmwn!
AmOut of the hard black coEmal-face I was tAmorn, go dE7own!
CLived in the shade of the high pit heap
E7I'm still down tAmhere where the Gseams arAme deep
DmDigging a Amhole, awaDmy in the cE7oal, go doAmwn!

All chords in this song (7)

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The Big Hewer

by Ewan MacColl

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Verse 1]

Am D E7 Am

Out of the dirt and darkness I was born, go down!

Am Em Am E7

Out of the hard black coalface I was torn, go down!

Kicked on the world and the earth split open

E7 Am G Am

Crawled through a crack where the rock was broken

Dm Am Dm E7 Am

Burrowed a hole, away in the coal, go down!

[Verse 2]

Am D E7 Am

In a cradle of coal in the darkness I was laid, go down!

Am Em Am E7

Down in the dirt and darkness I was raised, go down!

Cut me teeth on a five-foot timber

E7 Am G Am

Held up the roof with my little finger

Dm Am Dm E7 Am

Started me time away in the mine, go down!

[Verse 3]

Am D E7 Am

On the day that I was born I was six feet tall, go down!

Am Em Am E7

And the very next day I learned the way to haul, go down!

On the third day worked at board and piller

E7 Am G Am

Worked on the fourth as a long-wall filler

Dm Am Dm E7 Am

Getting me steam up, hewing the seam, go down!

[Verse 4]

Am D E7 Am

I'm the son of the son of the son of a collier's son, go down!

Am Em Am E7

Coal dust runs in the veins where the blood should run, go down!

Five steel ribs and an iron backbone

E7 Am G Am

Teeth that can bite through rock and blackstone

Dm Am Dm E7 Am

Working me time, away in the mine, go down!

[Verse 5]

Am D E7 Am

Three hundred years I hewed at the coal by hand, go down!

Am Em Am E7

In the pits of Durham and East Northumberland, go down!

Been gassed and burned and blown asunder

E7 Am G Am

Buried more times than I can number

Dm Am Dm E7 Am

Getting the coal, away in the hole, go down!

[Verse 6]

Am D E7 Am

I've scrabbled and picked at the face where the roof was low, go down!

Am Em Am E7

Crawled in the seams where only a mole could go, go down!

In the thin-cut seams I've ripped and redded

E7 Am G Am

Where even the rats are born bow-legged

Dm Am Dm E7 Am

Winning the coal, away in the hole, go down!

[Verse 7]

Am D E7 Am

I've worked in the Hutton, the Plessey, the Brockwell Seam, go down!

Am Em Am E7

The Bensham, the Busty, the Beaumont, the Marshall Green, go down!

I've lain on me back in the old three-quarter

E7 Am G Am

Up to the chin in stinking water

Dm Am Dm E7 Am

Hewing the coal, away in the hole, go down!

[Verse 8]

Am D E7 Am

In the northern pits I've sweated and earned me pay, go down!

Am Em Am E7

Toiled in the worn-out drift mines night and day, go down!

Where the anthracite is hard and shining

E7 Am G Am

I've tried me hand at the hard-rock mining

Dm Am Dm E7 Am

I dug me a hole away in the coal, go down!

[Verse 9]

Am D E7 Am

Out of the dirt and darkness I was born, go down!

Am Em Am E7

Out of the hard black coal-face I was torn, go down!

Lived in the shade of the high pit heap

E7 Am G Am

I'm still down there where the seams are deep

Dm Am Dm E7 Am

Digging a hole, away in the coal, go down!

About The Big Hewer Chords by Ewan MacColl

Learn how to play The Big Hewer by Ewan MacColl with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Big Hewer chords”, “The Big Hewer guitar chords”, or “Ewan MacColl The Big Hewer chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy The Big Hewer chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Big Hewer lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Am, D, E7, Em, C, G.

FAQ — The Big Hewer by Ewan MacColl

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What key is "The Big Hewer" in?

The chords for "The Big Hewer" show the original chord names (including Am, D, E7, Em, C, G). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.