Coalshooter

In Johnson County Holler, where the minin' company bloomed

He lived in a house with all five brothers, his dearest sisters too

The summer heat was as bad as the mud that the human air did brew

In the winter the snow just blowed on in

Through holes in the wall you could throw a dog through

As an able-bodied boy, he lied about his age

To help his father break away from the rattle of a poor man's ball and chain

They made him shoot their coal, and he was grateful at the time

There was many a boy that'd done the same

And they'd never come out alive

Better run coal shooter, run

Run away as fast as you can

And when you get to the end of the tunnel

Just keep on runnin' my friend

'Cause this ain't no kind of life

That a young man should live

If you can run faster than gunpowder burns, you might see the light again

Well they were bitin' down on blastin' caps, just doing like daddy asked

Even though they knew that the next bite down could surely be their last

You ain't got no time to be scared, no

With dynamite in your hands

Don't hesitate boy, 'cause if you slip up, son, you're as good as dead

You'd better run coal shooter, run

Run away as fast as you can

And when you get to the end of the tunnel

Just keep on runnin' my friend

'Cause this ain't no kind of life

That a young man should live

If you can run faster than gunpowder burns, you might see the light again

They sent him deep into the mine where a boy can't see the light of day

Guided by the lamp on his head, in the dark he begins

To pray that the fuses were all cut right

And that a stray spark don't take light

He prays that he won't die in this mine, he hates the thought

Of mama cryin'

You better run coal shooter, run

Run away as fast as you can

And when you get to the end of the tunnel

Just keep on runnin' my friend

'Cause this ain't no kind of life

That a young man should live

If you can run faster than gunpowder burns, you might see the light again

You might see the light again