Many years ago, when I worked at the US Bureau of Mines, I wrote a rap song about that job. That song is called The Bolt Boys. It was recorded by a co-worker and friend by the name of Clay Stuckey. That song can be found on my blog (https://bryanulrich.net/bolt-boys/). Recently, my daughter challenged me to write a rap song about tailings. The following is the result of that challenge.
Ya’ll don’t know what tailings is?
Sit right there and I’ll give you a quiz
See that gold chain hangin’ ’round yer neck?
Y’ think it came from a pirate wreck?
A gold miner broke out some rock
Then liberated that gold w’out a Glock
The rest of the rock, got sent away
Just like your no-good cousin Faye
The no-good part gets sent to a facility
That gets designed to the best o’ my ability
A tailings facility, yo, not like a prison
Talking ‘bout your cousin Faye, we still isn’t
You’ve heard o’ all the failings
I’m talkin’ about mine tailings
I’ll give you the straight dope
Case you think there’s no hope
I’ll be a straight up G
If you’ll listen to me
Ya’ll gotta be in compliance
With some hard, cold science
Just in case this still isn’t clear
You gotta hire a good engineer
It takes a team from the whole damn mine
And you gotta get that team to align
You’ll want to lower your overall risk
If som’thing goes wrong, ain’t no slap on th’ wrist
You’ll want your design to be highly devised
This ain’t no place to have something improvised
You don’t want something that’s just alright
Ya gotta do just what’s actually right
(Mine Tailings Mine Tailings)
(Mine Tailings Mine Tailings)