Ironmasters

Oh this is an old story that's rarely ever told
 the raping of the country, of the valley
 the men who came to reap with a musket and a bible
 they wanted to take the valley
 the valley! the valley!
 they wanted to take the valley
 and oh the ironmasters, they always get their way
 and so far a pittance all the people worked the land
 all the men and the women and the children
 and on sundays it was down to the chapel in the town
 the preacher said give generously!
 give generously! give generously!
 the people they gave generously
 and oh the ironmasters, they always get their way
 the union met in secret on the dark side of the hill
 by the light of a thousand candles
 their pay had been cut, all the people come on out
 and by scores they were joining Rebecca
 Rebecca! Rebecca!
 the people were joining Rebecca
 and oh the ironmasters, they always get their way
 riot!
 ironmaster, call the army
 call the hungry from the irish sea
 ironmaster, call the parliament
 it's no sin to fight to be free!
 from the smokey stacks of merthyr
 to the hills of Ebbw vale
 from Swansea docks to Merseyside and Liverpool
 with the union leaders crushed
 and the union quickly smashed
 they blackend the face of the country
 the country! the country!
 they blackend the face of the country
 and oh the ironmasters, they always get their way
 now on a hill in Brecon is Crawshay's ruined house
 and it blackens out the green of the valley
 and on the battered grave is the epitaph they gave
 it stands there, god forgive him!
 forgive him! forgive him!
 and all who rot in hell with him
 and oh the ironmasters, they always get their way
 riot!
 ironmaster, call the army
 call the hungry from the irish sea
 ironmaster, call the parliament
 it's no sin to fight to be free!
 and oh the ironmasters, they always get their way
 and oh the ironmasters, they still get their way!