Black Lung/coal Lyrics - 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