Hey Coal Miner (Inspired by Mr. Atha Thacker)

From the Album Here I Stand: Elder’s Wisdom; Children’s Song (Smithsonian Folkways)

A coal miner’s job is never done
Works down in the ground away from the sun
Been a coal miner since he was young
Hey coal miner

From the Little to the Big Pratt
With a carbide lamp stuck to his hat
Digging for coal for the steam plant
Hey coal miner

Goes in when it’s dark comes out when it’s light
For a hoot-owl shifter the sun is too bright
Goes right to bed, sleeps until night
Hey coal miner

Two or three clackers is what he got paid
For a hard day’s work until his dying day
A clacker’s not much, but that’s what he made
Hey coal miner

With a wrist auger, brace and a bit
Drilled a six-foot hole for the charges to fit
Not much time once the fuse got lit
Hey coal miner

Goes in when it’s dark comes out when it’s light
For a hoot-owl shifter the sun is too bright
Goes right to bed, sleeps until night
Hey coal miner

Into the truck then into the bath
Ground into dust, then in a flash
Turns into fire that turns into ash
Hey coal miner

When Daddy don’t come out of the mines
So many kids left behind
She rears them all up on the hillside
Hey coal miner

Goes in when it’s dark comes out when it’s light
For a hoot-owl shifter the sun is too bright
Goes right to bed, sleeps until night
Hey coal miner

A coal miner’s job is never done
Works down in the ground away from the sun
Been a coal miner since he was young
Hey coal miner

Words & music by Larry Long
Copyright Larry Long 1996 | BMI

*Lyrics collectively written by Larry Long with youth from rural Alabama through the Elders’ Wisdom, Children’s Song program in partnership with PACERS Small Schools Cooperative and Community Celebration of Place. Inspired by Atha Thacker.

Appears on

Listen Now

Here I Stand: Elders’ Wisdom, Children’s Song is exclusively available on Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

Larry’s music is available on Apple Music, Amazon, Spotify, Bandcamp and select e-tailers