Coal Lyrics

No, thank you, son, I'm fine

I quit 'em cold in '49

She said reek of drink or smoke, the choice is mine

She passed on in '61

Yeah and I'll be honest, son

I still reach for one from time to time

I was born in '24

And when I got back from the war

I dug more coal than I'd thought there was to dig

And I've been putting on these clothes

And driving down this dusty road

For longer than I'd thought I'd ever live

And it's all so still, you know

When you're three hundred feet below

And you smell the heat of hell just down the line

Oh, but there's still goddamn coal

Down in that goddamn hole

Oh, and there's still hours to go 'til quitting time

I heard trees turn into peat

And underweight and heat

Time turns everything to pitch-black gold

And a billion years from then

I'll go to town with all the men

And piss every cent I earned into the snow

And it's all so still, you know

When you're three hundred feet below

And you smell the heat of hell just down the line

Oh, but there's still goddamn coal

Down in that goddamn hole

Oh, and there's still hours to go 'til quitting time

I think I'd like to die

Sitting on this old dragline

Just roll me down the hole when it's my time

Maybe someday, bless my soul

When my body turns to coal

I'll get dug up by some kid with eyes like mine

And it's all so still, you know

When you're three hundred feet below

And you smell the heat of hell just down the line

Oh, but there's still goddamn coal

Down in that goddamn hole

And there's still hours to go 'til quitting time

There's still hours to go 'til quitting time