Springhill Mining Disaster
U2 · Other Songs - U2
Down in the heart of the Cumberland Mine
There's blood on the coal and miners lie
In the roads that never saw sun or sky
Roads that never saw sun or sky
Down at the coal face the miner's working
Rattle of the belt and the cutter's blade
Crumble of rock and the walls close round
Living and the dead men, two miles down
Living and the dead men, two miles down
Twelve men lay two miles from the pitshaft
Listen for the drilling of a rescue team
Six hundred feet of coal and slag
Hope imprisoned in a three-foot seam
Hope imprisoned in a three-foot seam
Eight days passed and some were rescued
Leaving the dead to lie alone
All their lives they dug their graves
Two miles of earth for a marking stone
Two miles of earth for a marking stone
In the town of Spring Hill you don't sleep easy
Often the Earth will tremble and groan
When the Earth is restless, miners die
Bone and blood is the price of coal
Bone and blood is the price of coal
Springhill Mining Disaster
U2's 'Springhill Mining Disaster' stands as a pivotal moment in the band's transition from indie rock to global stadium rock, released in 1987. The track features a distinctive, driving rhythm section that sets the tone for their subsequent major-label success. Lyrically, the song explores themes of industrial decay and human resilience, drawing inspiration from the real-life 1914 Springhill Mine Disaster in Nova Scotia. This recording marked a significant shift in the band's sound, moving away from the jangly guitar pop of their early work toward a heavier, more anthemic style that would define their career. It remains a cornerstone of their discography, often cited as a key influence on the development of the alternative rock genre in the late 1980s.