It's a workin' man I am
And I've been down underground
And I swear to God, if I ever see the sun
Or for any length of time
I can hold it in my mind
I never again will go down underground

At the age of sixteen years
Oh, he quarrels with his peers
Who vowed they'd never see another one
In the dark recess of the mine
Where you age before your time
And the coal dust lies heavy on your lungs

It's a workin' man I am
And I've been down underground
And I swear to God, if I ever see the sun
Or for any length of time
I can hold it in my mind
I never again will go down underground

At the age of sixty-four
He will greet you at the door
And he will gently lead you by the arm
Through the dark recess of the mine
He will take you back in time
And he'll tell you of the hardships that were had

It's a workin' man I am
And I've been down underground
And I swear to God, if I ever see the sun
Or for any length of time
I can hold it in my mind
And never again will go down underground
God, I never again will go down underground