West Virginia Mine Disaster Lyrics

Kathy Mattea

Oh say, did you see him? It was early this morning,
He passed all your houses on his way to the call.
He was tall, he was slender and his dark eyes so tender,
His occupation was mining, West Virginia his home.

It was just before 12, I was feeding the children
Ben Mosly came running to bring us the news.
Number 8 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
To comfort each other and to pray for their own.
There's Tommy, 14, and there's John, not much younger,
Their own time soon will be coming to go down the black hole.

Now what will I say to his poor little children?
And what will I tell his dear mother at home?
And what will I say to my heart that's clear broken?
To my heart that's clear broken if my baby is gone.

If I had the money to do more than just feed them
I'd give them good learning, the best could be found.
So when they grow up they be checkers and waiters
And not spend their life digging in the dark underground.

Say, did you see him going? It was early this morning.
He passed all your houses on his way to the call.
He was tall, he was slender and his dark eyes so tender,
His occupation was mining, West Virginia his home.

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