Down In The Coalmine

Words and Music by : Traditional
I am a jovial collier lad, as blithe as blithe can be,
And let the times be good or bad it's all the same to me.
It's little of the world I know, and care less for its ways,
For where the dog star never glows, I wear away my days.

CHORUS:
Down in the coalmine underneath the ground,
Where a gleam of sunshine never can be found,
Digging up the dusky diamonds all the season 'round,
Down in the coalmine underneath the ground.

My hands are horny, hard and black from working in the vein,
And like the clothes upon my back, my speech is rough and plain.
Well, if I stumble with my tongue, I've one excuse to say,
It's not the collier's heart that's wrong, it's the head that goes astray.

CHORUS

How little do the great ones care who sit at home secure,
What hidden dangers colliers dare, what hardships they endure.
The very fire they sit beside to cheer themselves and wives,
Mayhap was kindled at the cost of jovial miners' lives.

CHORUS

Then cheer up lads and make the most of every joy you can,
And always keep your spirits high as best befits a man.
For let the times be good or bad, we'll still be jovial souls,
For where would we all be without the lads who search for coal?

Notes:
collier - coal miner
dog star - Sirius Major, only appears in summertime

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