Chemical Worker's Song
Written by Ron Angel
Written by chemical worker and folk singer Ron Angel about 1964, the background of this lament is not the harrowing and dramatic accidents which can happen in a chemical works, but the process worker’s awareness of the long-term efforts of a working environment.
In our version, the claps are lyrics.
LYRICS
CHORUS
And it’s go boys go (CLAP),
They’ll time your every breath (CLAP CLAP),
And every day you’re in this place
You’re two days nearer death,
But you go...
Well a process man am I and I’m telling you no lie,
I work and breath among the fumes that trail across the sky.
There’s thunder all around me and there's poison in the air,
There’s a lousy smell that smacks o’ hell and dust all in my hair.
CHORUS
I’ve worked among the spinners, and I’ve breathed the oily smoke,
I’ve shovelled up the gypsum and it nigh on makes you choke.
I’ve stood knee deep in cyanide, been sick with a caustic burn,
Been working rough I've seen enough to make your stomach turn.
CHORUS
Well there’s overtime and bonus opportunity galore,
The young lads like their money and they all come back for more.
But soon you’re knocking on and you look older than you should,
For every bob made on the job you’ll pay with flesh and blood.
CHORUS x2