He's hard more hard luck
Than most men could stand
The mines was his first love
But never his friend
He's lived a hard life
And hard he'll die
Black lung's done got him
He's time is nigh
Black lung, black lung
Oh you're just biding your time
Soon all of this suffering
I'll leave behind
But I can't help but wonder
What God had in mind
To send such a devil
To claim this soul of mine
He went to the boss man
But he closed the door
Well it seems you're not wanted
When you're sick and poor
You ain't even covered
In them medical plans
And your life depends
On the favors of men
Down in the poor house
On starvation's plan
Where pride is a stranger
And doomed is a man
His soul full of coal dust
'Til his body's decayed
And everyone but black lung's
Done turned him away
Black lung, black lung
Oh your hands I see coal
As you reach for my life
And you torture my soul
Cold as that water hole
Down in that dark cave
Where I spent my life's blood
Digging my own grave
Down at the graveyard
The boss man came
With his little bunch of flowers
Dear God what a shame
Take back those flowers
Don't you sing no sad songs
The die has been cast now
A good man is gone
[Repeat: 1st & 2nd verse]