I was ninety-five feet under and twenty years of age
Working in the copper mines for less than living rage
With my uncle, father, brother, and our grandfather too,
Everybody pulled their weight 'cause that's the right thing to do
But oh my legs are tired and my face is filthy black,
Won't someone bring me water and pour it down my back
It was early in the morning and I just got off the line,
My father and brothers were punching in at nine
"Go home and sleep my son," my daddy said to me
Tell your sister that you love her, kiss your mama on the cheek
Oh my legs are tired someone take me to my bed,
Mama bring me water and pour it on my head
Mama dropped the gravy, I never seen her look so scared
The telephone was dangling as she reached out to the air
She didn't have to say a thing, I knew what was said
There was thunder in the mountain and there's nintey men dead
Oh my mama's shaking, she's gonna fall apart
Someone bring her whiskey and pour it on her heart
But oh my legs are tired and my face is filthy black
There's thunder in the mountain and their never coming back