Kathy Mattea - Black Lung/Coal (Coal ) lyrics

He's had 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, his 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 you're poor
You ain't even covered in their medical plans
And your life depends on the favors of man

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 hand's icy cold
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 as 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

He's had 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, his 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