He had more hard luck than most men could stand
The mine 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 n....

Black lung, black lung, oh, you're just biding your time
Soon all of this suffering 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 poor
You ain't even covered in them medical plans
And your life depends on the favors of men

Down in the poor house on starvation's plan
Where pride is a stranger and doomed is a man
His soul full of coaldust 'til his body's decayed
And everyone but black lung's done turned him away

Black lung, black lung, oh your hands I see coal
As you reach for my life and you torture my soul
Cold as that waterhole down in that dark cave
Where I spent my life's blood, digging 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 had more hard luck than most men could stand
The mine 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 n....

Black lung, black lung, oh, you're just biding your time
Soon all of this suffering 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