Blue Diamond Mines

I remember the ways in the bygone days
When we were in our prime
How us and John L gave the old men hell
Down in the Blue Diamond Mine
Well, the whistle blowed and the rooster crowed
Two hours before daylight
When a man done his best and he earned his good rest
Made seventeen dollars a night

In the mines, in the mines, in the Blue Diamond Mines
I worked my life away
In the mines, in the mines, in the Blue Diamond Mines
Oh, fall on your knees and pray

You old black gold, you've taken my lungs
And your dust has darkened my home
And now that we're old, you're turning your back
Where else can an old miner go?
Well, it's Alum Block and it's Big Leatherwood
And now it's Blue Diamond too
Well, the pits are all closed and it's yet another job
What else can an old miner do?

In the mines, in the mines, in the Blue Diamond Mines
I worked my life away
In the mines, in the mines, in the Blue Diamond Mines
Oh, fall on your knees and pray

John L had a dream but it's broken it seems
Mining has had it's day
But they're stripping off my mountain top
And they pay me eight dollars a day
Might get a little poke of welfare meal
A little poke of welfare flour
But I tell you right now, you won't qualify
'Til you work for a quarter an hour

In the mines, in the mines, in the Blue Diamond Mines
I worked my life away
In the mines, in the mines, in the Blue Diamond Mines
Oh, fall on your knees and pray