Up in the morning,
Down in the mines,
Work like a mule for my pay;
And that damn old boss
has nothin' to do
But hang around and bug me all day.
Dust all around me
Fillin' my lungs
Takin' my good breath away;
And when I'm too old to work
The union gives me 30
bucks a month for my pay.
Dear Lord above how I wish there was some way
To kiss this hell hole goodbye;
I curse the day that I ever came down here
I'll be minin' coal 'til I die.
Robbin' those pillars
Knowin' my fate
If one of them should ever give way;
And that damn old boss
Won't get off my back
Yellin for coal every day.
Look at that coal dirt
Deep in my pores,
I just can't scrub it away;
And the sweat rolls down
Burnin' my eyes
As I drag timber up the gangway.
Swingin' that shovel
Muckin' that coal
'til my fingers are calloused and sore;
20 car loads are filled
and I wanna go home
But that damn old boss yells for more.
Oh Lord above how my bones are achin'
from 30 years down in this hole;
Diggin and drillin' 'till my back is breakin'
There's just no relief for my soul.
Up to the washhouse
Scrub off the grime
One more shift put away.
But there's no glad tomorrow,
on my weary way home,
For the dawn means another damn day.