When the whistle blows each morning
And I walk down in this cold dark mine.
I say a prayer to my dear savior
Please let me see the sunshine one more day.

   When oh when will it be over
   When will I lay these burdens down?
   And when I die dear Lord in Heaven
   Please take my soul from beneath that cold dark ground.

I still grieve for my poor brother
And I still hear my dear old mother cry
When late that night they came and told her
He'd lost his life down in that Big Shoal mine.

I have no shame I feel no sorrow
If on this earth not much I own
Cause I have the love of my sweet children
An old plow mule a shovel and a hoe.