Kathy Mattea Blue Diamond Mines lyrics

I remember the ways in the bygone days
when we were in our prime
How us and John L. give the old man hell
down in the Blue Diamond Mine

Well the whistle blows and the rooster crows
full two hours before daylight
When a man's done his best and he earned his good rest
at seven dollars a night

(Chorus)
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
Oh, fall on your knees and pray.
(end chorus)

You old black gold, you've taken my lung
and your dust has darkened my home
And now that we're old, you're turnin' your back
where else can an old miner go?


Well it's Algomer Block and it's Big Leather Woods
now its Blue Diamond too
Well, the pits are all closed and it's,"get another job"
what else can an old miner do?

(chorus)

John L. had a dream
But it's broken, it seems
Mining has had it's day
But they're stripping off my mountain top
and they pay me eight dollars a day

You might get a little poke of welfare meal
a little poke of welfare flour
But I tell you right now you won't qualify
'till you work for a quarter an hour.

(chorus)