West Virginia Mine Disaster
(Jean Ritchie)
Say, did you see him? it was early this morning
He passed by your houses 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 twelve, 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 poor little children?
And what will I tell his dear mother at home?
And it’s what will I tell to my that’s clear broken?
To my heart that’s clear broken since my darling is gone
Say, did you see him? 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
