Coalman Blues

(album: Blue Skies Black Heroes - 1988)

Woke up this morning 'bout five o'clock
Got me some eggs and a nice pork chop
Cheap cigar and a magazine
Had to run pretty fast to catch the five-fifteen

Let me tell you something that I've seen
The coal man got run over by the five-fifteen
It cut off his arms and it crushed his ribs
Did the poor man die? No, the poor man lived

Let me tell you something that I know
The coal man got run over by the five-fourty-four
It cut off his arms and it crushed his head
Did the poor man die? No, the poor man lived

Hard coal and your stovewood, ma'am
Hard coal and your stovewood, ma'am
I ain't got but a little bit left
If you don't come get it, gonna burn it myself

Put the wood in the stove and the match in your hand
The wood in the stove and the match in your hand
The wood in the stove and the match in your hand
You run to the door and stop the coal man

I sell it to the rich and I sell it to the poor
I sell it to the rich and I sell it to the poor
I sell it to the rich and I sell it to the poor
I sell it to the nice brown standing in the door

Furnish your wood and furnish your coal
I furnish your wood and I furnish your coal
I furnish your wood and I furnish your coal
I make you love me, doggone your soul

Got your water, I've got your gas
I've got your water and I've got your gas
I've got your water, I've got your gas
You mistreat me, mama, well, that's your last

Let me tell you, mama, what's the matter now?
Let me tell you, mama, what's the matter now?
Let me tell you, mama, what's the matter now?
You don't want me? Take me anyhow

Sweet mama, sweet mama, what is on your mind?
Sweet mama, sweet mama, what is on your mind?
Sweet mama, sweet mama, what is on your mind?
You can't quit me, no need of trying

I went down the road, I was feeling bad
Went down the road, I was feeling bad
I went down the road, I was feeling bad
And I feel so worried as I ever have had

Going away and it won't be long
Going away and it won't be long
Going away and it won't be long
Don't believe I'm leaving, count the days I'm gone