Cornish Lads Are Fishermen (R.Bryant)

A well known acapella anthem from Roger Bryant of Cornish folk group Rum & Shrub, protesting about the lack of fishing, the demise of tin mining and the abundance of second home owners.  Many local bands have covered it but there’s only one way to sing this song – Loud and Proud!

Cornwall’s last tin mine, South Crofty, closed in 1998.

The story goes that the graffiti was being written along the wall outside of South Crofty Mine when a policeman came around the corner. Having taken it all in, he apparently turned and walked away and left them to finish the job.

“CORNISH LADS ARE FISHERMEN AND CORNISH LADS ARE MINERS TOO.  BUT WHEN THE FISH AND TIN ARE GONE WHAT ARE THE CORNISH BOYS TO DO?”