I cant stay much longer, melinda, the sun is getting high. I cant help you with your troubles, if you wont help with mine. I gotta get down, I gotta get down, I gotta get down to the mine.
You keep me up just one more night, I cant sleep here no more. Little ben clock says quarter to eight; you kept me up till four. I gotta get down, I gotta get down, or I cant work there no more.
A lotta poor man make a five dollar bill, keep him happy all the time. Some other fellas makin nothin at all and you can hear him cry, Can I go, buddy, can I go down take your shift at the mine?
Gotta get down to the cumberland mine. Gotta get down to the cumberland mine. Thats where I mainly spend my time. Make good money, five dollars a day. made anymore, I might move away.
Lotta poor man got the cumberland blues he cant win for losin Lotta poor man got to walk the line just to pay his union dues. I dont know now, I just dont know if Im goin back again.