Rare U2 Springhill Mining Disaster Live From Dublin

[@meplayin]

It happen at Springhill, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, Canada and was called the "Bump, in mine number 2" on October 23, 1958 at 8:06 PM 174 men were in the mine and 75 were killed. Many men and boys were trapped for days and they sang songs to make the time go by, some were saved others were not. A sad time in my own family and many of them died that day in 58. This song was composed by Peggy Seeger and her husband Ewan MacColl.

[@McCRBen]

Peggy also wrote the song The Lifeboat Mona which Luke Kelly sang.

[@FemboyOwO_]

2 explosions and the bump the cave itself now stays as a museum you can only walk about a kilometer in before the waters up to your knees, anne murray was from springhill to. I love springhill but a 6 meter deep sinkhole opened up once when I was there it gets allot of them.

[@feel4films889]

I'm from the other part of the world, far down south in Argentina but this hauntingly beautiful song puts me right there, sang with such feeling by Bono in this performance

[@wendellporter4875]

the bump happened just down the street i live on herret rd

[@wendellporter4875]

about a minute or so walk from my apt is the number 2 mine, most if not all of those mine buildings are long gone

[@tangodelta7617]

Great cover of a magnificent song. Like or loathe U2, they always deserve credit for this passionate performance,.

[@ccrider3435]

I asked a kid today: "Do you know the day the music died?" He said: "May 10, 1960'' I told him: "NO, it was February 3, 1959, American rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. Richardson were killed in a plane crash.'' He said: "Oh, I thought is was May 10, 1960... the day Bono was born.'' 🙄

[@markaliv]

Hats off to this voice, passion and spirit!!

[@mveinotte900]

Proud to be from Springhill myself. Lived about 5 houses away from the mine. Everything is still there. even the escape tunnels they used back then. They made this song pretty proud

[@timspence7843]

Hey Mel!! i remember you. Damned fine man.

[@talldarkandahandfull5781]

Can you share what you think about why some survived and some were killed,did it matter how close to the exit/entrance the miners were when it caved in?

[@timspence7843]

@@talldarkandahandfull5781 I have never talked about it as I lost my dad in the Bump. sorry

[@talldarkandahandfull5781]

@@timspence7843 sorry for your lodss....i think you mean you prefer not to discuss even now why you think some people got out of the mine

[@ioleenkimmel89]

I lived on Herrett Road just a few houses from the mine. Lost an uncle.

[@declanfitzpatrick8268]

I remember watching this live on TV at the time. Really powerful performance.

[@erfiguer]

2020, Chile, and I don't know why I'm so connected to this song. Just beautiful!!!

[@o0xst]

50th anniversary of the first 9/11 coming up might have something to do with it....

[@Floddertje216]

Wow, I used to have this recording on a cassette long, long time ago. Hadn't heard it for ages, but I still remember every little detail of Bono's singing on it. Absolutely love this song.

[@o0xst]

Same

[@o0xst]

Was it the recording where Bono gets upset at the audience and says something?

[@alessandrofaina1512]

​@@o0xstyes but I was young and did not speak fluent English back then. Was about people whistling and ended by saying "we are not the Beatles ...". And few more words. Never heard again since 😢

[@craymond727]

I think it's the bootleg album "Rock's Hottest Ticket" - Chicago '87

[@alessandrofaina1512]

@@craymond727 and just like that, you gave me the answer that I am looking for years. Thank you very VERY much!!!🙏🙏🙏

[@newjerseyfan101]

his voice is so beautiful

[@paultaylor47]

my father actually reported from the mine entrance for the new glasgow evening newspaper. He would later report from the site of the Westray mine disaster for the Halifax Herald.

[@KendrickMan]

That would be a painfully familiar story for him to report.

[@andrewdjburke]

And so amazing that U2 could sing about the beautiful town of springhill nova scotia. Great cover.

[@seanevans8364]

Saw this in the UK on the day I think it was first broadcast on Ch4. Remember it as an unreal performance..they were going to be big I thought...brilliant tribute song.

[@hotlov72]

I used to have this bootleg on cassette, it used to have an appearance of The Dalton Brothers (U2) singing Oh Lucille 😁from another tv show

[@bonoman1987]

I heard this, on cassette (is that how you spell cassette?), 30 years ago....in all its' flaws, and because of U2, and this performance, I still sing it today.....and it is because of this singular performance....today, I saw it for the first time, though I sang it a thousand times.....thank you

[@stoverecords7778]

Good job boys, from Nova Scotia.

[@susycanela]

Bono is so handsome in this video.

[@cdndude12]

Proud to be 100% an Irish Canadian and I live in Nova Scotia saw U2 at the very last city (100,000 +) of the 2 1/2 year 360 Tour 10 rows back along with the ramps wow The greatest thing is the Ticket Guy screwed up and put me and a buddy in $500 VIP "seats" Best concert EVER almost 3 hours long and all U2 family from Ireland were there as Bono sang to Ally

[@andrewdjburke]

Been looking for this since I was 17. 10 years later. Thank you.

[@pinkfreud62]

We used to sing this in music class way back in the early '70s.

[@allangood6884]

Loved by this Springhiller.

[@KendrickMan]

Hello from McGee st.

[@allangood6884]

@@KendrickMan My grandparents lived on McGee street. Second house up from Miller Corner. (129?)

[@KendrickMan]

@@allangood6884 high school area here

[@lubsnewfie6122]

This is closer to the Kay Porter and Fred McKenna version which I'm more familiar with. Kay Porter is from Springhill. The disaster, to which this song is written about, happened in 1958 but there were two others which occurred in 1891 and 1956, respectfully. This song resonates with many people in Ireland which has seen it's share of mining mishaps not to mention that some that died at Springhill, were of Irish decent

[@circussal1]

A beautiful tribute to those who have died down any mine and also to the great Luke Kelly, whose version of this is also phenomenal. Thanks for posting

[@keohaneverba]

his voice so fits to the song and context

[@mikehunter2844]

Not a patch on Luke Kelly's.

[@paulwood6263]

Very debatable, like comparing apples to oranges. Luke Kelly is fantastic but so is Bono and Bono version is live. Be interesting to see how he perfected it in the studio. Either way I enjoy both Luke and Bono.

[@markkelly511]

this was one of the my first time I herd U2 what a great song and one of my favorite songs that U2 did, a huge fan of them love there style keep it going and can't wait to seya in NJ/NY

[@crazyhorseg]

@poleske Hardly a start-up, this was 1987. They appeared on the cover of Time magazine that year! They were showing due respect to The Dubliners and all the other great other Irish acts that appeared on this show (Dubliners 25th anniversary). Course, they blew them all away, cos this was U2 at their live peak.

[@susycanela]

It sounds like a western film, I like it very much.

[@dermot1961able]

beautiful. gracias and a prayer for those miners and their loved ones anywhere on this globe who have been lost.

[@LedRush93]

@MCDP09 I'm a Springhiller as well. Me Gramp survived The Bump, my great grandfather and another family member did not. Your Grandfather was a brave man, thank you

[@richgouette]

I just read that he just referred to the body count: many interpreted it as 1988

[@roncarroll4136]

How sweet it is , like the sweetest wine that when u2 rocked the planet . That's when u2 would sell out arenas in minutes.

[@kindnesstemmie6625]

I never heard this before, I have chills.

[@EAPK12]

Weird, he said 1988 instead of 1958(the year of the bump). 1988 was the year Maurice Ruddick passed, he was the singing miner giving hope to his fellow miners trapped underground.

[@soppiest13]

from what I can remember I think there was a previous springhill mining disaster in 1888 not 1988

[@markeidson8122]

+EAPK12 It's just a slip I think. The song was performed in 1987 and though Bono may act God-like, he ain't that good! The other years of disaster were 1891 and 1956.

[@brettwarren9667]

Love the classic chiming delay of Edge’s guitar.

[@Mjollnir50]

The Irish seem to feel a great appreciation and respect for this song, and I say let them sing it as they will.

[@Hottentadventures]

the scottish love it as well

[@TurboJimbo]

Rock n Roll U2 style. Lots of emotion, young man, lots of emotion !!!! TurboJimbo

[@taramaher]

I live in Springhill. And it was 58.

[@noonaspud]

Great stuff. Love the conviction...it's not ego..it's passion.

[@noonaspud]

Great stuff. Love the conviction of U2....it's not ego, it's passion.

[@tralfamadorian3081]

fair play. "Anytime drink was brought out," he said

[@sheenafraser6730]

Nice to see people still come to this video

[@jarbono]

Happy ST Paddies one of my favorite U2 covers of the Ronnie Drew and Lou Kelly classic.

[@marlenesullivan3113]

SANG WITH LOTS OF FEELINGS 😎❤

[@seanbaite47]

Impressed to see Bono actually in awe of someone (Ronnie Drew) at the start of this (and in even more awe of Luke Kelly - who was no longer with us then unfortunately). Great Seeger / McColl song - not even spoiled by Bono's melodramatic delivery. Fair play to them though, they sent me looking for the McColl and Luke Kelly versions and I wasn't disappointed.

[@loripfadt3142]

This song is perfect for Bono...❤

[@U2DrowningMan]

incredible..watched it live with tears in my eyes.. up the dubs

[@adriandoran1267]

Amazeing u2 then and now.top top men.very proud of u lads

[@boixosdavid4908]

i love u2

[@Nigelxman]

+david garalut That's great David, but lets find your shirt dude.

[@mariamarcelagutierrez4168]

Sos lo mas grande que me pasó en la vida conocerte!!! Geniooooo!!!! Dios te ilumine siempre mi amor 😍 toda una vida llevando tu música 😭

[@SH4MR0CK007]

great song been looking every where for this , i remember it from when i was a kid

[@michaelgerard196]

Breathtaking

[@markkelly9788]

one of my fav songs that is never plyed its a abstly classic song... havwn't herd in a long time...thxs mk

[@klavieru2687]

¿Cómo se llama ese pequeño platillo vertical con el que inicia la canción y está dando vueltas en su atril? What is the name of that small vertical cymbal that he hist at the start of the song and is spinning around on its stand?

[@camillelabrecque9182]

Bono is crazy attractive here

[@HoboJoeWitness]

My wife's side of the family is from Springhill. Most everyone in the town has a relative that died that day.

[@BVDS1]

Hey U2 covered our song.... I was part of a folk group called The Springhill Singers back in the 60s

[@cgab56]

steve steve this song was actually written by one of the miners that survived the springhill mining disaster, go look up maurice ruddick

[@fiddleman31]

Cyn Gab Written by Peggy Seeger.

[@DaithiBOC]

Peggy Seeger and her husband Ewan McCall.

[@williamhorner6080]

This was first shown on a random afternoon in the UK on ch4. Right before U2 released The Joshua Tree.

[@Kramdnaveb]

60 years ago yesterday

[@stephanytucken8716]

Beyond awesome

[@nlgbbbblth]

"From father to son The blood runs thin..."

[@ontheup1]

im sure because of this song

[@markkelly9540]

this is classic music/verision... a big fan from nj mk......

[@captaincouchpotato7374]

My dads side is from springhill. my grandma was in her room when the bump happened, she flew into the air hit her head on the ceiling and came crashing down

[@belturbet4]

Good man , Paul. NIce job.

[@360U2]

@russfromdodge How did you manage to do that when she died when i was 3. Thanks.

[@JamesVibe]

This u2 right before they exploded in the USA..... them seem so shy almost.... funny..... by the 90's they were different

[@magorzatazapert9955]

Magnifficent...

[@dragmio]

Yeah, right. If he was overdosing, going to rehab and having sex scandals every other week he would be "normal", but he's trying to help people, so he has a "huge ego".

[@Roidsear42]

@iancurtis1985 Actually, you can't touch Luke Kelly.. but Bono does a great job.. every song he sings gets a certain spirit, to put it that way. And there's an Irish saying: "Bíonn dhá insint ar scéal, agus dhá leagan deag ar amhrán" - "There are always two versions of a story, and a dozen of a song"... and that's what keeps folk music alive. ;)

[@richgouette]

well said

[@brianwalsh6666]

Thanks for the proverb in Irish! So true.

[@Scott_Silver]

Bono killed it here

[@AbandonEarth911]

Bone and blood is the price of coal.

[@SmileyMT]

u said it, pure brilliance. I could be as bold as to say he did luke kelly proud, if i may

[@hightidesup]

@prush1307 Sorry to hear about your Grandfather: Gave me chills reading this! With love!

[@poleske]

Artistic- It is great to see U2 as a startup. Any starting musician can see how fucking nervous he was and how he pulled through regardless. On the song... this is a re-occurring tragedy. 1 There is no such thing as clean coal. Blood is dirty. 2 These Tragedies can easily be avoided. ALL MINING DISASTERS OF THIS CENTURY HAVE OCCURRED on NON-UNION MINES. Mine owners responsible should be tried for manslaughter chargers. They risk human. Not out of necessity, but out of greed.

[@Roguestreamnet]

What is the show? the date? I assume the master is in PAL?

[@Mac3622]

Never knew this song existed until the 50th anniversary last year. As a Nova Scotian who has studied Springhill, its a nice tribute, a little left wing, but nice.

[@talldarkandahandfull5781]

What's left wing about these lyrics

[@CindyMWood]

I'm a Springhill girl and I think this is so cool! :)

[@hosoiarchives4858]

Echo on that guitar

[@jpjames1]

loved the young u2

[@LadyAcadia2585]

I agree with LedRush93 and russfromdodge. I too am from NS, born in Truro the year after the disaster. My father went to help with the rescue when he worked manning the weather station in Deburt. I grew up listening to the Men of the Deep (a singing group of real miners) sing this. I like U2 and this sounds good but it would have been so much better if he hadn't butchered Peggy Seeger's lyrics. I have looked online and it is very hard to find any site that has the lyrics right.

[@ObamaFromKenya]

Melinda Schmidt is the mine still there?

[@DaithiBOC]

It was abandoned and It filled up with water. Oddly the mine is now a source of geothermal heat for Springhill. Sad event.

[@DaithiBOC]

I am from Massachusetts and was only 12 when this happened. My Grannie's housekeeper, Glenny, was from Springhill and when this happened she was glued to the radio, CBA - AM1070 (odd I still remember that) when put a nice clear signal into new england. I remember Glenny know she of the miners killed, als remember that she was very pleased that the Queen sent Prince Phillip to the memorial service for the miners. By the way, I liked CBA as they played lots of east coast music.

[@poleske]

U2 at their best

[@garmambozja]

@dragmio well said

[@loishastings9098]

Not so rare now but still beyond brilliant

[@wandafischetti1186]

GREAT BONO!!

[@cheapy2006]

great song bono's fairly pissed though

[@fxq777]

Nervous?

[@Frisky29]

he forgot the words,, Bono pretending to be shy!!!

[@tavomontana3302]

2024 shout out to all the miners in the world

[@alanaldea4476]

Why bono n edge are always notify in the band? They are all great person they are are all the root of this great band, U2 the legend

[@raulledezma8714]

...for 33 too...thanks..

[@crishewson]

linda musica.....

[@bizzjoe]

Pity about the mic dropping out, and I'm not the biggest U2 fan, but this performance is pretty shit hot to be fair..

[@corpo99]

as an Irish man this is gods work. gold. magic.

[@philipholohan1527]

Get a life

[@bonosfriend]

@thesisp Where do you get your facts???

[@david14011]

I’m assuming this inspired him to write Red Hill Mining Town?

[@axblack]

yep thanks to me hehe ;-)

[@russfromdodge]

@360U2 Your lovely mother never thought that way.....

[@tomgreene6579]

Can't beat Luke.

[@Studio2770]

With the amount of power Bono is belting out, you'd think he'd grow a beard instantly here.

[@richgouette]

lol awesome

[@mikehunter2844]

Nowhere near the power of Luke Kelly.

[@bonoffee83]

Seconded. Nice way to put it! :)

[@splorenzo]

This is soooooo irish =)

[@KendrickMan]

Nah, I'd call it Canadian ;)

[@MarkBerry]

@@KendrickMan Nova Scotian

[@KendrickMan]

@@MarkBerry true that haha. I'm in Springhill right now actually haha

[@billshankley5648]

Great

[@MichaelC-ms8ss]

Bualadh Bos lads

[@fxq777]

Sounds very nervous at start?

[@dmrobbins73]

I agree. Though that's what I love about it, shows his character.

[@Panda_Laconia]

where in Dublin was this ?/////

[@eoin86]

+Stephen Johnson Late Late show Dubliners tribute. Great stuff!

[@mikehunter2844]

RTE Studio, Donnybrook, Dublin 4.

[@pmacc3557]

Brillers!