You've heard of the Gresford Disaster
Of the terrible price that was paid
Two hundred and sixty-four colliers were lost
And three men of the rescue brigade

It occurred in the month of September
At three in the morning the pit
Was racked by a violent explosion
In the Dennis where gas lay so thick

Now the gas in the Dennis deep section
Was packed there like snow in a drift
And many a man had to leave the coal-face
Before he had worked out his shift

Now a fortnight before the explosion
To the shotfirer Tomlinson cried
"If you fire that shot we'll be all blown to hell!"
And no one can say that he lied

Now the fireman's reports they are missing
The records of forty-two days;
The collier manager had them destroyed
To cover his criminal ways

Down there in the dark they are lying
They died for nine shillings a day;
They have worked out their shift and now they must lie
In the darkness until Judgement Day
Now the Lord Mayor of London's collecting
To help out the children and wives;
The owners have sent some white lilies
To pay for the poor colliers' lives

Farewell, all our dear wives and our children
Farewell, all our comrades as well
Don't send your sons down the dark dreary mine
They'll be doomed like the sinners in hell