I'm a black lung miner from East Tennessee Raised my family on cold dust and beans That old black lung's got me no life left in me Hang the lantern in the window give my love to Marie For twenty-five years I've worked in the mines Where the earth is as black as a cold winters night There's millions in the ground not a penny for me Hang the lantern in the window give my love to Marie I've loved all my children six sons of mine
I pray that they never have to work in the mine For the black lung will get them they'll die just like me Hang the lantern in the window give my love to Marie There's frost on the ground, ice in the trees The air is so heavy I can't hardly breathe Oh the old black lung's got me and soon I'll be free Hang my lantern in the window give my love to Marie Hang my lantern in the window give my love to Marie