It was a ballad about children in a mining town?

[sharksfan2000]

Like the other guesses here, this one doesn't entirely fit your description, but is it possible your friend meant early Bee Gees rather than Fleetwood Mac? Their first hit in the '60s was titled "New York Mining Disaster 1941". Found some further info about that song on this page:
http://www.geocities.com/gibbwords/n...aster_1941.htm

I can't think of any Fleetwood Mac song that would come close to fitting your description.