The Oakey Strike Eviction
(Tommy Armstrong)
It was early in November and I never will forget
When the polises and the candymen at Oakey's houses met
Johnny the bellman he was there squinting round about
And he put three men on every house to turn the pitmen out
CHORUS: Oh what would I do, if I had the power myself
I’d hang the twenty candymen and Johnny who carries the bell
There they went from house to house and they put things on the road
But mind they didn't hurt themselves with lifting heavy loads
One would carry the poker or the fender or the rake
But if they carried two at once, it was a great mistake
Some of these dandy candymen were dressed up like a clown
Some had hats without a peak and some without a crown
And there was one chap with them and I swear that he was worse
'Cos every time he had to stoop it was a laughable farce
There was one chap had no sleeves nor buttons on his coat
Another had a bairn's hippin wrapped around his throat
One chap had a pair of breeks that belonged to a boy
One leg was a sort of tweed the other was cordyroy
Next, come the masters I think they should think shame
Depriving wives and families of their comfortable home
But when they go from where they live I hope they go to hell
Along with the twenty candymen and Johnny who carries the bell