Miner Song

I don’t know, but I’ve been told
A miner’s life is mighty cold
Sleep outside in a stony bed
Up at dawn in the freezing wind

Family don’t know where I am
Baby girl and a boy of ten
If my dreams of them don’t kill me soon
I’ll strike it rich and be home by June
Home by June

Pick and pan and boots and luck
More dear to me than love and such
Stepped off the boat and into hell
But gold dust will my tears dispel

I claim this corner of the earth
To dig and starve and toil and hurt
I’ll leave this place a wealthy man
Or be buried with my miner kin