Miner's Prayer

When the whistle blows each morning

And I walk down in that cold, dark mine

I say a prayer to my dear Saviour

Please let me see the sunshine one more time

When oh when will it be over

When will I lay these burdens down

And when I die, dear Lord, in heaven

Please take my soul from 'neath that cold, dark ground

I still grieve for my poor brother

And I still hear my dear old mother cry

When late that night they came and told her

He'd lost his life down in the Big Shoal Mine

When oh when will it be over

When will I lay these burdens down

And when I die, dear Lord, in heaven

Please take my soul from 'neath that cold, dark ground

I have no shame, I feel no sorrow

If on this earth not much I own

I have the love of my sweet children

An old plow mule, a shovel and a hoe

When oh when will it be over

When will I lay these burdens down

And when I die, dear Lord, in heaven

Please take my soul from 'neath that cold, dark ground

Yeah when I die, dear Lord, in heaven

Please take my soul from 'neath that cold, dark ground