Intro:
DBmADGD
Verse 1:
DBmADGD
Oh this is an old story that's rarely ever told, the raping of the country, of the valley
DBmADAD
The men who came to reap with a musket and a bible they wanted to take the valley
DGDA
The valley, the valley, they wanted to take the valley
DGDAD
And oh the ironmasters, they always get their way
Verse 2:
DBmADGD
And so for a pittance all the people worked the land, all the men and the women and the children
DBmADAD
And on Sundays it was down to the chapel in the town, the preacher said give generously
DGDA
Give generously, give generously, the people they gave generously
DGDAD
And oh the ironmasters, they always get their way
Verse 3:
DBmADGD
The union met in secret on the dark side of the hill by the light of a thousand candles
DBmADAD
Their pay had been cut, all the people come on out and by scores they were joining Rebecca
DGDA
Rebecca, Rebecca, the people were joining Rebecca
DGDAD
And oh the ironmasters, they always get their way
Break:
D
Chorus:
DGDA
Ironmasters, call the army, call the hungry from the Irish sea
DGDA
Ironmasters, call the parliament, it's no sin to fight to be free
Verse 4:
DBmADGD
From the smokey stacks of Merthyr to the hills of Ebber vale from Swansea docks to Merseyside and Liverpool
DBmADAD
With the union leaders crushed and the union quickly smashed they blackened the face of the country
DGDA
The country, the country, they blackened the face of the country
DGDAD
And oh the ironmasters, they always get their way
Verse 5:
(D) (Bm) (A) (D) (G)(D)
Now on a hill in Brecon is Crawshay's ruined house and it blackens out the green of the valley
(D) (Bm) (A) (D) (A) (D)
And on his battered grave is the epitaph they gave it stands there, god forgive him
DGDA
Forgive him, forgive him, and all who rot in hell with him
DGDAD
And oh the ironmasters, they always get their way
Break:
D
Chorus:
DGDA
Ironmasters, call the army, call the hungry from the Irish sea
DGDA
Ironmasters, call the parliament, it's no sin to fight to be free
DGDAD
And oh the ironmasters, they always get their way
DGDAD
And oh the ironmasters, they still get their way