1793.12
The Miners' Song
Anon
The Star (September 11, 1793)

Sung by Mr. Fox, in the Celebrated Siege of Valenciennes [1]

Now Performing at Astley's.

                                 I.

                In the bowels of the earth,
                We miners take our birth;
Secure from prying eyes, our fatal work prepare:
                And soon we'll make the foe,
                Our mighty calling know,
And blow them and blow them, to atoms in the air!
    And blow them, and blow them, to atoms in the air!

                                II.

                The faithful compass see,
                Directs us where to be,
To countermine the art of Britain's daring foe:
                Now, haughty Gauls, beware,
                For not a man we'll spare,
But to atoms, to atoms, the garrison we'll blow!
    But to atoms, to atoms, the garrison we'll blow!

                               III.

                The business goes on well,
                We see the waters swell;
The foe can't counteract, we've made it plain appear:
                Now, now, prepare to spring,
                For mischief's on the wing;
And death, and certain death, and certain death is near!
    And death, and certain death, and certain death is near!

                               IV.

                Now, now, we'll soon enshroud,
                With sulphur, every cloud;
And soon their cover'd way in ruins we'll display!
                With sword in hand proceed,
                And storm the breach with speed;
Brave LEIGH and ABERCROMBIE, with DOYLE [2] leads us the way.
    Brave LEIGH and ABERCROMBIE, with DOYLE, leads us the way.

Notes

1. Valenciennes was captured from the French by the combined forces of the British and the Austrians in July 1793.

2. Leigh and Sir Charles William Doyle were aides to Sir Ralph Abercromby (1734-1801), British Commander in the Netherlands. Doyle was publicly thanked by Abercromby for his heroic action in the siege of Valenciennes.