Coal Mining Blues

I spend all my days

Going down to the mines

Under the ground

Where the sun never shines

Breaking my back

I put heat in your house

I've got the roar of a lion

The breath of a mouse

Black on my hands

Black on my shoes

Black on my heart

From these coal mining blues

Black on my hands

Black on my shoes

Ashes to dust

With these coal mining blues

The man in the mirror

Looks nothing like me

He's just a weary reminder

Of what I used to be

The sunken red eyes

And the lines in my face

A tired old man

Has taken my place

Black on my hands

Black on my shoes

Black on my heart

From these coal mining blues

Black on my hands

Black on my shoes

Ashes to dust

With these coal mining blues

I can't fall asleep

For the dreams that may come

Of when the walls cave in

And coal fills my lungs

If life is a blessing

Then please let it be

That someday god's light

With give these pour souls relief