A Miner's Lullaby (Coorie Doon)

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From: possibly on Real Men Wear Kilts

words and music Matt McGinn

Coorie doon, Coorie doon, Coorie Doon, my darling,
Coorie doon the day.
Coorie doon, Coorie doon, Coorie Doon, my darling,
Coorie doon the day.

Lie doon, my dear, and in your ear,
To help you close your eye,
I'll sing a song, a slumber song,
A miner's lullaby.
 
Your daddy's doon the mine, my darling,
Doon in the Curbly Main,
Your daddy's howkin' coal, my darling,
For his ain wee wean.
 
There's darkness doon the mine my darling,
Darkness, dust and damp,
But we must have oor heat, oor light,
Oor fire and our lamp.
 
Your daddy coories doon, my darling,
Doon in a three foot seam,
So you can coorie doon my darling,
Coorie doon and dream.

KEY F

verse/chorus:

Background: I heard this song in a lecture by Ed Miller. It's a beautiful hypnotic lullaby by Matt McGinn (1928-1977) one of the most prolific songwriters of the Scottish Folk Revival. "Coorie doon" means to "snuggle down" as well as "courch down". McGinn does an amazing job at applying the images of a child in going to bed and the miner going down into the mines.