I cant stay much longer, melinda, the sun is getting high
I cant help you with your troubles, if you wont help with mine
I gotta get down, I gotta get down, I gotta get down to the mine

You keep me up just one more night, I cant sleep here no more
Little ben clock says quarter to eight; you kept me up till four
I gotta get down, I gotta get down, or I cant work there no more

A lotta poor man make a five dollar bill, keep him happy all the time
Some other fellas makin nothin at all and you can hear him cry,
Can I go, buddy, can I go down take your shift at the mine?

Gotta get down to the cumberland mine
Gotta get down to the cumberland mine
Thats where I mainly spend my time
Make good money, five dollars a day made anymore, I might move away

Lotta poor man got the cumberland blues he cant win for losin
Lotta poor man got to walk the line just to pay his union dues
I dont know now, I just dont know if Im goin back again