Coal miners, old and young, dirty and dusty coveralls
Silver lunch can in hand
Going down the rake, father and son
Carrying on that age old tradition
You see they are working men

CHORUS
It's a working man I am and I've been down underground
And I swear by God if I ever see the sun
Over any length of time, I can hold it in my mind
Then I will never again go down underground

At the age of sixteen years, he quarreled with his peers
And he swears there will never be another on
In the dark recess of the mine, where you age before your time
And the coal dust lies heavy on your lungs

REPEAT CHORUS

At the age of sixty-four, if he lives that long, he'll greet you at the door
And he'll gently lead you by the arm
In the dark recess of the mine, he can take you back in time
Tell you of the hardships that were there

REPEAT CHORUS TWICE

No, I never again will go down underground