In the year of '98 
The Julian mine became our grave 
Forty of us [bad word] upstairs 
Of the dirty black leg miners 

Forty wives and children were 
Left alone in these hard years 
We tried to help them how we could 
We're dirty black leg miners 

Two months later came to us 
Bob McLean to tell 'bout the [bad word] 
Told us we should fight for the rights 
Of the dirty black leg miners 

It was the first time we've heard 
How to found a union here 
Next day we began the strike 
For the dirty black leg miners 

We were striking 14 weeks 
Before police with guns showed up 
112 were killed by them 
Of the dirty black leg miners 

They were hanging Bob McLean 
And we started work again 
This strike was down but we are strong 
We're dirty black leg miners 

In the year of '98 
The mining [bad word] became our fate 
The weight of work now breaks the backs 
Of the dirty black leg miners 

In the future hopefully 
Our children all will tell the tale 
How Bob McLean laid down his life 
For the dirty black leg miners