I've been down so long, down, don't bother me
I've been down so long, down, don't bother me
We sleep two in my bed, me in old misery
I dug so much coal, by now I ought to own that mine
I dug tons of coal, son, what have I got to call mine?
What have I got to call mine?
I got the black lung fever and a backache all the time
I got the coal miner's blues
The coal miner's blues
The coal miner's blues

The coal miner's blues
Long before the union, son, I paid my dues
And I tell you it's hell to have the coal miner's blues
You know, once I had a woman
But she couldn't stand being pulled
Damn
Damn
, damn
One time I had a woman
Who couldn't take a wolf at the door
One day she met a rich man
I ain't got a woman no more
The mine owners are mad
Because the boys want to raise and pay
They want to raise and pay
Well, I remember when them rascals
Paid me a dollar a day
Just a dollar a day
Just a dollar a day
And all I did was risk my life
And that mine is a thousand ways
I got the coal miner's blues
The coal miner's blues
The coal miner's blues
Long before the union, son, I paid my dues
And I tell you it's hell to have the coal miner's blues
I got the coal miner's blues
The coal miner's blues
The coal miner's blues
Long before the union, son, I paid my dues
And I tell you it's hell to have the coal miner's blues
I got the coal miner's blues