Miner's Grave

I’m stuck in Carolina with rich rollin' hills
My darlin’s down in Santa Fe, workin' for the rails
I never thought I’d see the day that I’d lie in the dark
Wishin' for some ray of hope to come shinin' through the bars


Now my mama’s cryin’, cryin’, cryin’ for the shame
My daddy he just shakes his head and thinks he is to blame
That I lie here as cold and damp as in a miner’s grave

When I was nearly twelve years old, I started runnin’ shine
From Johnson City, Tennessee to the mouth of the Coal Glen mine
I promised to my sweetheart dear that I’d give up my still
On the mornin’ I turned seventeen, and join her on the rail

Now my mama’s cryin’, cryin’, cryin’ for the shame
My daddy he just shakes his head and thinks he is to blame
That I lie here as cold and damp as in a miner’s grave

In about three hours’ time in Ashe County you’ll see
I’ll be swingin’ from a bough of that old hangman’s tree