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SILENT ABERFAN
© 2004 by David Llewellyn
(Historic coal mining tragedy - October 21st 1966)

Okay, you can all go home early
Put a smile on this eight year old's face
But somehow, just one look at my mother
Put dread, right there in its place
And the line on the hill of the cars looking down
On a coal tip that crushed this coal mining town
We strain out ears but can not hear . . . silent Aberfan

Megan! Hey has anyone seen her
Was her first day in school
Tell me . . . oh did she get out safely
Just tell me it's true
Cause there's so many hands digging out of control
So little time, and they're going so slow
Hey . . . hold your breath, we're listening . . . to silent Aberfan

Bridge
Oh the women warned, and the Coal Board scorned
And ignored them to a man
Now all they hear each night in bed . . . is silent Aberfan

Just kids, one hundred and sixteen
Out of one forty four dead
We stood and the rain felt like tears
But nothing was said
Cause that's just how we are, brought up to endure
Ours to suffer, and ours to loose
Though our hearts cry out, you'll never hear . . . silent Aberfan

Bridge
Though the mine's gone now, and the valley's green
You'll hear scarce laughter here
No children's children to disturb . . . silent Aberfan