Before dawn each day I'd go down below And the walls they'd sweat, I'd sweat more The coal-black dust filled the air I'd breath it in, I could not afford to care There were debts passed down from father to son From mother to daughter from mother to son As we owed our souls to the company store Each day we got less they got more
I believe I can see the light of the day It's up there ahead not far away I've been digging my way out of this dark mine Since what feels like the dawn of time I believe I can see the light of day
And the timbers placed to support these walls One day came down about our heads did fall I was buried alive I was left for dead But I came to began to dig instead I swear when again I can breath fresh air Look up to the heavens and thank God that I'm there I'll never be buried in this earth again When I'm dead throw my ashes to the four winds
Since I was a boy I've worked this mine They said 'Son, you'll be here till the day you die' But you'll get no more of my blood and my sweat No more years of my life in this God-less pit There's sun and there's rain and there's love up there No cause in this world could drag me back here