Coalshooter

In Johnson county holler
 where the minin' comp'ny 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 coalshooter 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 blasting 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
 Better run coalshooter 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
 And prays that he won't die in this mine, he hates the thought
 Mama cries
 You better run coalshooter 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