Question

Alarm New South Wales

Answer 1

Pit shaft wheels turn for the last time
In the Rhondda tonight
The Davey lamps that shone so brightly
There's no more need for their light
As the last piece of coal is cut
From the belly of the black seamed hole
A man walks home alone
Past a church full of mourning souls
Throughout his lifetime he has fought
He has given his life
In tears the congregation sing
Cwm Rhondda Oh my Lord

Great is the rape of the fair country
To Botany Bay for my Great Grandfathers
Deportation sailed

Great so great is the fair country
GREAT IS THE NEED FOR A NEW SOUTH WALES

Comments

The slag heap stares
It blocks out the sky
It kees this Rhondda grey
The stale beer spills from angry drinkers
Their arguments do the same
A choir voice cries it shatters the silence
Where's the future in this place
The question hangs unanswered
All eyes on a new born babe
In another lifetime men fought hard
Men gave their lives
For the charter that would save their sons
Cwm Rhondda Oh my Lord

Great, great change in the fair country
The future lies with the sons and daughters
South will meet with North
Say, say a prayer for the fair country
GREAT IS THE NEED FOR A NEW SOUTH WALES

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Throughout a lifetime men have fought
Men have given their lives
To hear the congregation sing
CWM RHONDDA OH MY LORD

Great, great change in the fair country
The future lies with the sons and daughters
South will meet with North
Say, say a prayer for the fair country
GREAT IS THE NEED FOR A NEW SOUTH WALES

Someone hear my prayer
Someone hear my prayer
Someone hear my prayer
Someone hear my prayer
Someone hear my prayer
Someone hear my prayer
Someone hear my prayer
For A NEW SOUTH WALES

Answer 2

I hope Cwm Rhondda is doing better today.

Comments

The Rhondda is on lockdown...

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And yet, they shall prevail.

So speaks the River Rhondda.

Answer 3

I feel that I have just learned some history, Wales and Australia, SFA!

Comments

An iconic song-recorded with the Morriston Orpheus Choir I believe.

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SFA, one of my good online friends is an Australian, and he lives in NSW. I think I will send your link to him, see if he knows of this.

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I didn't know the song, but certainly understand the sentiment.

My father was Welsh. He was born near Cardiff in 1884 (yeah, yeah, he was in his 50s when I was born, and I'm an old geezer) and his family emigrated to Australia in 1888. Although they were not 'transported' that was the fate of my maternal great-grandparents, who were Irish. They met on a convict ship on the journey south, and stayed together.

Enjoyed reading it, SFA. (Thanks for the link, Virginia.)

Answer 4

David Evans put this as a comment under my post, and I am moving it here to make it easier for others to find, it is interesting!

"I didn't know the song, but certainly understand the sentiment. 

My father was Welsh. He was born near Cardiff in 1884 (yeah, yeah, he was in his 50s when I was born, and I'm an old geezer) and his family emigrated to Australia in 1888. Although they were not 'transported' that was the fate of my maternal great-grandparents, who were Irish. They met on a convict ship on the journey south, and stayed together. 

Enjoyed reading it, SFA. (Thanks for the link, Virginia.) "