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Words - The Fire People

We are in the ‘Iron Town’ of Merthyr in the year 1831. Merthyr has grown within 2 short years from a rural valley with a population of around 3,000 into a sprawling industrial town with an estimated population of 40,000. Living and working conditions are at best basic, there is no running water and disease is rife. In an effort to force the Iron Master, William Crawshay to improve wages and conditions, clandestine meetings are being held and pamphlets being distributed all urging the formation of a workers union. On June 2nd 1831 following a mass rally on the hills above Merthyr, thousands of workers decided enough was enough and marched on Merthyr town.

The Fire People

Gideon Davies held the line
A wise Welshman in troubled times
He was blinded by a copper spill
With a fiddle and bow he walked the hills

He said, I don’t believe to arms is right
But this blind man has seen the light
In Merthyr town there will come a fight
But let the Union be our saviour

Sun Heron came from county Clare
Or Wexford, Mayo who knows where
She begged her way from ship to shore
At Gideons side she would beg no more

She said, the hunger drove me from my land
Now in Merthyr town there will be a stand
Its bread or blood for the workingman
But let the Union be our saviour

Dic Penderyn took his name
from the Beacon town from whence he came
an honest man who believed in right
but Gideon told him not to fight

He said, a charter is the only way
And the masters all will have their day
But Powder and shot is not the way
Let the Union be our saviour

The cry went out and the soldiers came
From garrison towns they made their way
To Merthyr for an English King
But an ambush sent them back again

The rioters fought neath a flag of red
and Left many a soldier boy lying dead
with the masters shivering in their beds
tis blood for honest labour

When the fighting stopped in Merthyr town
The rioters stood on taken ground
But Penderyn sat in a Cardiff jail
And the masters had someone to blame

Many witnesses they all did swear
Dic Penderyn was not there
But the hanging judge he did not care
Now the lord must be his saviour

No London hangman could be found
So a novice came from Worcester Town
He placed the rope and the trap was pulled
Penderyn dropped from where he stood

Iniquity o’ Lord he cried
But the masters cannot turn the tide
Let justice from my spirit rise
And let the union be our saviour
 

Dawson Smith