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Coal Miners Songs Analysis

By Amy C Gilstrap
Last updated about 4 years ago
11 Questions

Working in a Coal Mine

Lee Dorsey
Workin' in the coal mine Goin' down, down, down Workin' in a coal mine Oops, about to slip down Workin' in a coal mine Goin' down down, down Workin' in a coal mine Oops, about to slip down
Five o'clock in the mornin' I'm already up and gone Lord, I'm so tired How long can this go on?
Daddy, workin' in the coal mine Goin' down, down, down Workin' in a coal mine Oops, about to slip down Workin' in a coal mine Goin' down, down, down Workin' in a coal mine Oops, about to slip down
'Course I make a little money Haulin' coal by the ton But when Saturday rolls around I'm too tired for havin' fun
Too tired for havin', I'm just workin' in the coal mine Goin' down, down, down Workin' in a coal mine Oops, about to slip down Workin' in a coal mine Goin' down, down, down Workin' in a coal mine Oops, about to slip down
Lord I'm so tired How long can this go on?
Daddy, workin' in the coal mine Goin' down, down, down Workin' in a coal mine Oops, about to slip down Workin' in a coal mine Goin' down, down, down Workin' in a coal mine Oops, about to slip down
Five o'clock in the mornin' I'm already up and gone Lord, I'm so tired How long can this go on?
Daddy, workin' in the coal mine Goin' down, down, down Workin' in a coal mine Oops, about to slip down Workin' in a coal mine Goin' down, down, down Workin' in a coal mine Oops, about to slip down
'Course I make a little money Haulin' coal by the ton But when Saturday rolls around I'm too tired for havin' fun
Too tired for havin', I'm just workin' in the coal mine Goin' down, down, down Workin' in a coal mine Oops, about to slip down Workin' in a coal mine Goin' down, down, down Workin' in a coal mine Oops, about to slip down
Lord, I'm so tired
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Allen Toussaint
Working in a Coal Mine lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

1.

What time does the singer go to work?

2.

Who else in his family works in the coal mine?

3.

What benefit does the singer get from work?

4.

What might he be a little sad about in this job?

Coal Miner's Daughter

Loretta Lynn
Well, I was borned a coal miner's daughter In a cabin, on a hill in Butcher Holler We were poor but we had love That's the one thing that daddy made sure of He shoveled coal to make a poor man's dollar
My daddy worked all night in the Van Lear coal mines All day long in the field a hoin' corn Mommy rocked the babies at night And read the Bible by the coal oil light And ever' thing would start all over come break of morn
Daddy loved and raised eight kids on a miner's pay Mommy scrubbed our clothes on a washboard ever' day Why I've seen her fingers bleed To complain, there was no need She'd smile in mommy's understanding way
In the summertime we didn't have shoes to wear But in the wintertime we'd all get a brand new pair From a mail order catalog Money made from selling a hog Daddy always managed to get the money somewhere
Yeah, I'm proud to be a coal miner's daughter I remember well, the well where I drew water The work we done was hard At night we'd sleep 'cause we were tired I never thought of ever leaving Butcher Holler
Well a lot of things have changed since a way back then And it's so good to be back home again Not much left but the floor, nothing lives here anymore Except the memory of a coal miner's daughter
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Loretta Lynn
Coal Miner's Daughter lyrics © Sure - Fire Music Company
5.

Select the many ways this family made money

6.

What did this family do for evening entertainment?

7.

How many pairs of shoes did they get a year?

Sixteen Tons

Tennessee Ernie Ford
Some people say a man is made outta mud A poor man's made outta muscle and blood Muscle and blood and skin and bones A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong
You load sixteen tons, what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company store
I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal And the straw boss said "Well, a-bless my soul"
You load sixteen tons, what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company store
I was born one mornin', it was drizzlin' rain Fightin' and trouble are my middle name I was raised in the canebrake by an ol' mama lion Can't no-a high-toned woman make me walk the line
You load sixteen tons, what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company store
If you see me comin', better step aside A lotta men didn't, a lotta men died One fist of iron, the other of steel If the right one don't a-get you, then the left one will
You load sixteen tons, what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company store
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Merle Travis
Sixteen Tons lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc
8.

How would you describe the attitude of the coal miner in this song?

9.

In the song the singer tells St Peter he can't go. Where does St. Peter want him to go?

10.

What is his reason for not being able to go there?

11.

Music is a way that people express themselves and share their life experiences. Describe the lives of coals miners based on these songs. Use at least 1 detail from each song to support your response.