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
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
When the walls cave in
And the coal fills my lungs
If life is a blessing
Then please let it be
That someday God's light
Will give these pour souls relief