I remember the ways in the bygone days

When we was all in our prime

How us and john l gave the old man hell

Down in the blue diamond mines

Where the whistle would blow 'fore the rooster crowed

Full two hours before daylight

When a man done his best and he earned his good rest

And had seventeen dollars at night

In the mines in the mines in the blue diamond mines

I have 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 soul

Your dust has darkened my home

And now that i'm old you're turning your back

Where else can an old miner go

Well first it's big block and then leatherwood

And now it's blue diamond too

The pits are all closed and it's go find a 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

I fall on my knees and pray

Your union is dead and you're shaking your head

They say mining's had its day

But you're stripping off my mountain top

And you pay me three dollars a day

Well you might get a poke of welfare meat

A little poke of welfare flour

But i tell you right now you won't qualify

Less 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

I fall on my knees and pray

John l had a dream but it's broken it seems

Our union is letting us down

Last week they took away my hospital card

And it's why don't you leave this old town

Well you go downtown and you hang around

Well maybe it ain't so bad

Then you come back home and they meet you at the door

And it's what did you bring me dad

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

I fall on your knees and pray