Blue Diamond Mines Lyrics - Coal - Kathy Mattea

I remember the ways in the bygone days 

when we was all in our prime 

When us and John L. we give the old man hell 

down in the Blue Diamond Mine 

Well the whistle would blow 'for the rooster crow 

full two hours before daylight 

When a man done his best and earned his good rest 

at seven 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 

I fall on my knees and pray. 

You old black gold you've taken my lung 

your dust has darkened my home 

And now I am old and you've turned your back 

where else can an old miner go 

Well it's Algomer Block and Big Leather Woods 

now its Blue Diamond too 

The bits are all closed get another job 

what else can an old miner do? 

Now the union is dead and they shake their heads 

well mining has had it's day 

But they're stripping off my mountain top 

and they pay me eight dollars a day