Aaron Watson - Kentucky Coal Miner's Prayer

Deep in the mountain of Harlan County


Employed by the Cumberland coal company


The pay is short, the days are long


But our labor union laws are coming on strong


So I drink this whiskey for my throat





Wear my hard hat and weathered coat


Early every morning I stand in line


Waiting to work these Kentucky coal mines





We enter the shaft around five thirty


With two dozen hands, cold, callused and dirty


We’ll dig through a million tons of rock and clay


And we’ll still be digging at the end of the day


Down on our knees we confess our sins


And pray that the roof above don’t cave in





So bless our hearts and save or souls


And the air we breathe down in the devil’s hole


Just last week when the the ceiling fell


The explosion trapped us in the depths of hell





The weight of the earth took poor Tucker’s life


Leaving behind a hungry baby and wife


We dug out with our shovels and picks


But soon enough the black lung disease will make us sick





So bless our hearts and save or souls


And the air we breathe down in the devil’s hole


I work deep in the mountains of eastern Kentucky





I know if I leave Harlan alive I’ll be more than lucky


Wish I could go to Texas and plant some cottonseed


But moving takes money and I’ve got three mouths to feed


So I drink this whiskey for my throat


Wear my hard hat and weathered coat


Early every morning I stand in line


Waiting to work another Kentucky coal mine