Black Lung/ Coal - Kathy Mattea

He’s had more hard luck than most men could stand

The mines was his first love but never his friend

He’s lived a hard life and hard he’ll die

Black lung’s done got him his time is nigh

Black lung, black lung, oh you’re just bidin' your time

Soon all of this sufferin' I’ll leave behind

But I can’t help but wonder what God had in mind

To send such a devil to claim this soul of mine

He went to the boss man but he closed the door

Well, it seems you’re not wanted when you’re sick and you’re poor

You ain’t even covered in their medical plans

And your life depends on the favors of man

Down in the poor house on starvation’s plan

Where pride is a stranger and doomed is a man

His soul full of coal dust till his body’s decayed

And everyone but black lung’s done turned him away

Black lung, black lung, oh your hand’s icy cold

As you reach for my life and you torture my soul

Cold as that water hole down in that dark cave

Where I spent my life’s blood diggin' my own grave

Down at the graveyard the boss man came

With his little bunch of flowers, dear God what a shame

Take back those flowers, don’t you sing no sad songs

The die has been cast now, a good man is gone

He’s had more hard luck than most men could stand

The mines was his first love but never his friend

He’s lived a hard life and hard he’ll die

Black lung’s done got him his time is nigh

Black lung, black lung, oh you’re just bidin' your time

Soon all of this sufferin' I’ll leave behind

But I can’t help but wonder what God had in mind

To send such a devil to claim this soul of mine