Coal mining began in Scotland as early as the 12th century. The development of the steam engine by James Watt in the 18th century began to increase demand for coal. Railway development in the 19th century increased demand for coal further and mines therefore had to be dug deeper. This song was written before deep pit mining or the Industrialization of Scotland. The graphics used in this video represent mining from Burns time to the early twentieth Century. Many Coal miners from Scotland emigrated to the new world and some like my ancestors settled in the coal and steel region of Western Pennsylvania. Alan Reid sings the song Collier Laddie a song by Robert Burns about a young women who loves her coal mining lad.
Alan Reid is a founder member of the Battlefield Band and has been touring the world with this great Scottish group for over 25 years, also singing on all the many albums the band have produced over the years. Indeed many of the songs and tunes that the Battlefield Band have in their repertoire were composed or written by Alan
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