It's a working man I am and I've been down underground
And I swear to God if I ever see the sun
Over any length of time, I can hold it in my mind
I never again will go down underground

At the age of sixteen years, oh, he quarreled with his peers
Who vowed they'd never see another one
In the dark recess of the mine, where you age before your time
And the coal dust lies heavy on your lungs

It's a working man I am and I've been down underground
And I swear to God if I ever see the sun
Over any length of time, I can hold it in my mind
I never again will go down underground

At the age of sixty-four, oh, he'll greet you at the door
And he'll gently lead you by the arm
Through the dark recess of the mine, oh, he take you back in time
And he'll tell you of the hardships that were had

It's a working man I am and I've been down underground
And I swear to God if I ever see the sun
Over any length of time, I can hold it in my mind
I never again will go down underground

It's a working man I am and I've been down underground
And I swear to God if I ever see the sun
Over any length of time, I can hold it in my mind
I never again will go down underground