Pick it up man, your dusty shovel Spit on your hands and Stick it in the ground
Put it on man, the dirty blue pants The black felt hat Here comes the man I'm looking at Here comes the man I'm looking at
His life was written on his hands His soul was flooding in his veins And they talk to me Those big old hands I see For the same blood lives in me
Get on down man, in the coal mine Spit on your hands and Stick the pick in the rock
Bring'em up man, the chuncks of black coal And waste no time for We're selling well and we want some more We're selling well and we want some more
His life was written on his hands His soul was flooding in his veins And they speak to me Those big old hands I see For the same blood lives in me
Stretch'em out man, the muscle and bone And keep breathin' The air in your chest comes loaded with dust
But we need you down man, you and a thousand To dig earth and stone You immigrant workers get the fuel for the nation You immigrant workers burn their youth for the nation
His life was written on his hands His soul was flooding in his veins And they speak to me Those big old hands I see For the same blood lives in me