Lyrics

Coal dust sermons whispered black,
Promises traded, never paid back.
Beneath hollow mountains carved thin—
Young men descending, shadows begin.

Company’s store scripture, ledger of tears,
Marks every miner, his days counted in years.
Shiny black gospel preach progress and pride,
But heaven’s below with the sinners that died.

Women aged early from grief overdue,
Children born coughing, black coal tattoo
Promised salvation and wages divine—
Men buried daily down company mine.

Coal boss stands righteous, hands clean as bone,
Counting profits while widows mourn alone.
Bright future dangled, rememberin’ fire—
Dark tunnels dig deeper to satisfy desire.

Train whistle moaning, echoes lost hope,
Pit lamps flicker at end of their rope.
Lungs breathing soot, spirits worn thin,
Brought out in silence, carried quietly in.

Church steeple crooked atop marbled hill,
Preacher paid silence from company’s till.
Preaching patience to souls worn bare,
Redemption’s illusion, a liar a prayer.

Skin tattooed permanent charcoal-grey clue,
Measuring worth by these worn bloody shoe—
Iron rail rattles, whistles despair,
Bodies coal-darkened, justice rare.

Progress preached hollow, each dawn grow dim;
Numbers and dollars, a whispered grim hymn.
History surrenders each memory worn—
Black diamonds gleaming make widows unborn.

So drink here slowly from labor’s dark cup,
Promises empty as tombstones set up.
Men barter breaths ‘til grave markers swell;
Mountain keeps secrets the living won’t tell.