Clifford T. Ward typified the early 70s bedsitter singer-songwriter with a series of albums that were at best delightful and at worst mawkish. Ward left grammar school before A-levels to work as a clerk, but by 1962 was fronting local beat group Cliff Ward and the Cruisers. The group changed their name to Martin Raynor and the Secrets and made their recording debut for EMI Records in 1965, before recording several more tracks as the Secrets for CBS Records.
In 1967 Ward enrolled at Worcester teacher training college to study English and divinity, after which he taught at Bromsgrove high school. His debut album appeared on disc jockey John Peel's brave-but-doomed Dandelion Records label in 1972. His second album and his first release for Charisma Records, Home Thoughts, proved to be his finest work and gave him wider recognition. Ward constructed each song as a complete story sometimes with great success.
The beautiful "Gaye" became a UK Top 10 hit but surprisingly the stronger "Home Thoughts From Abroad" and the infectious and lyrically excellent "Wherewithal" failed to chart. Mantle Pieces and Escalator contained a similar recipe of more harmless tales like the minor hit "Scullery" with affecting lyrics like; "You're my picture by Picasso, you'd brighten up any gallery'.
Ward's refusal to tour and promote his songs did not help endear the singer to his record company, however, and he switched to the Phonogram Records label for 1975"s No More Rock 'N' Roll. In later years although still recording the occasional album and still reluctant to perform live, Ward received kudos as a songwriter with his material being recorded by artists such as Cliff Richard, Art Garfunkel and Justin Hayward.
He was struck down with multiple sclerosis in 1987 and his health rapidly deteriorated. He managed to record 1991's vinyl-only album Laugh It Off, and friends and colleagues pieced together two more albums of new songs, out-takes and demos to give the ailing Ward some financial assistance. He finally succumbed to pneumonia December 18th 2001.
Miner
Clifford T. Ward Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Someone will tell his wife
They'll run and fetch the doctor
To try and save his life.
He was the underground man
A slave to rock and mud
The self appointed cave man
The nation's life blood.
He did not own a mansion
He drove not limousine
His requirements were few to
Make more amenable the seam.
The rain has washed his body
Laid out in surface light
They'll run and fetch the curate
To try and put things right.
These lyrics from Clifford T. Ward's song "Miner" depict the dire situation of a miner who is in a very bad state. The first two lines suggest that his condition is so severe that someone will have to inform his wife about it. The third line emphasizes the urgency of the situation by mentioning that people will hurry to get a doctor in an attempt to save the miner's life. This sets the tone for the seriousness and desperation underlying the song.
The next paragraph delves into the miner's role and identity. He is described as the "underground man" who toils in the depths of the earth, being confined to the laborious tasks of digging through rocks and mud. The mention of him being a "self-appointed cave man" suggests that he willingly took on this challenging and dangerous job, perhaps driven by a sense of duty. The lyrics refer to him as the "nation's life blood," indicating the importance of his work in supplying the country with vital resources.
Contrasting the grandeur often associated with wealth and luxury, the third paragraph reveals that the miner leads a modest life. He doesn't possess a mansion or drive a luxurious limousine like some affluent individuals do. Instead, his livelihood depends on the few necessities required to make his work in the seam more accommodating. This highlights the discrepancy between the miner's simple existence and the extravagant lifestyles that are often glamorized.
The final paragraph describes a somber scene where the miner's lifeless body is washed by the rain and displayed in the surface light. This portrays the miner's physical demise and creates a melancholic atmosphere. The mention of running to fetch the curate, a religious figure, suggests the attempt to bring solace and offer spiritual guidance to those affected by the miner's passing. The line "to try and put things right" hints at the emotional turmoil and loss experienced by the community due to the miner's death.
In summary, these lyrics depict the challenging and often dangerous life of a miner, who sacrifices his well-being for the sake of providing essential resources for the nation. They convey the gravity of his situation, the simplicity of his existence, and the subsequent emotional impact of his passing on his loved ones and community.
Line by Line Meaning
He's in a very bad way
He is in a severe and critical condition
Someone will tell his wife
A person will inform his spouse of the situation
They'll run and fetch the doctor
They will quickly go and bring the doctor
To try and save his life.
In an attempt to rescue him from death
He was the underground man
He worked in the underground mines
A slave to rock and mud
He was trapped in a life of laboring with rocks and mud
The self-appointed cave man
He considered himself as a primitive dweller of caves
The nation's life blood.
He played a vital role in the country's productivity and well-being
He did not own a mansion
He didn't possess a grand house
He drove not limousine
He didn't drive a luxurious car
His requirements were few to
His needs and expectations were minimal in order to
Make more amenable the seam.
Make the working conditions in the mine more agreeable
The rain has washed his body
The rain has cleansed his lifeless body
Laid out in surface light
His corpse is placed under the open sky for everyone to see
They'll run and fetch the curate
They will hurry to bring the clergyman
To try and put things right.
In an attempt to bring solace and restore order
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nigel Jameson
Excellent video Jonnoms - and CTW was an excellent story-teller in his songs.
dreamerinalowprofile
Fantastic! Where do you find these brilliant video clips (and how do you remove the sound!)?
jonnoms
In both Windows and Mac moviemakers the audio is displayed as a separate track (underneath the video) which can be muted or deleted. When a song is obviously about a particular subject it is just a question of trawling through other YouTube vids to find something that (hopefully) matches.
dreamerinalowprofile
@jonnoms Many thanks. Paulo.
dreamerinalowprofile
Thanks again for your help. I can't compete with you and Scalpsie, but I'd like to try to improve! I am targeting CTW's lesser known tracks that I like, simply to promote his music. My Windows 10 doesn't have Moviemaker so I am using Microsoft Photos. Enjoying the creative process.
jonnoms
I started making these music vids because of Scalpsie but it's not about competing - It's fun! And everyone has their own 'take' on things. Keep doing what you're doing!
dreamerinalowprofile
Perhaps 'compare' would have been a more appropriate word. I have been inspired by both you and Scalpsie to create. Sometimes I think I try too hard, less is more. I have just uploaded I'd Like To Take You Out Tonight in a very simplistic way that (I think) suits the track. Hope you like it. Thanks for the encouragement JS.