It's a working man I am and I've been down underground   And I swear to God if I ever see the sun   Or for 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 quarrels 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   Or for any length of time I can hold it in my mind   I never again will go down underground      At the age of sixty four he will greet you at the door   And he will gently lead you by the arm   Through the dark recess of the mine he will 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   Or for any length of time I can hold it in my mind   I never again will go down underground   Lord, I never again will go down underground