West Virginia Mining Disaster

(Jean Ritchie)



Say, did you see him walking? it was early this morning

He passed by your house on his way to the coal

He was tall, he was slender, and his blue eyes so tender

His occupation was miner, West Virginia his home



It was just about noon, I was feeding the children

Ben Moseley come running for to give us the news

Number eight is all flooded, many men are in danger

And we don't know their number, but we fear they're all doomed



So I picked up the baby and I left all the others

For to comfort each other and pray for our own

There's Timmy, fourteen, and there's John not much younger

Soon their own time will be coming to go down the black hole



Now if I had the money to do more than just feed them

I'd give them good learning, the best could be found

And when they grew up they'd be checkers and weighers

And not spend their life drilling in the dark underground



And it's what will I tell to my three little children?

And what will I tell his dear mother at home?

And it's what will I tell to my poor heart that's dying?

My heart that's surely dying since my darling is gone



Say, did you see him walking? it was early this morning

He passed by your house on his way to the coal

He was tall, he was slender, and his blue eyes so tender

His occupation was miner, West Virginia his home



@work @mine

Copyright Jean Ritchie

filename[ WVMINING

MC

===DOCUMENT BOUNDARY