I slave all day in the dusty dark   for my living I risk my neck   and at the end of the month all you got for me   is a god damn bob tailed check      I mined 49 tons at 71 and a half   for 35 dollars and change   but them deductions add up to more than that   and a working man finds that strange      The supplies I need to do my job   break my back like no load of coal can   and my drill needs fixing before it’s used    and you call me a careless man      Six dollars to pay for this drafty old shack   that you boys oversee   and if the god damned dump burned to the ground    it wouldn’t look no worse to me      Got 2 kids at home expecting food from me    and that they’re still growing is true   but when I see a grocery bill looking like this    I believe my fathering days are through      So all you eager men heading down down down    you better heed what I say   if you find what you need you best take it with you    ‘cause they ain’t giving nothing away