Times they are hard in the mountains today
They're closing the mines, all the jobs are gone away
The Army comes to town and I sign up to fight
Then wonder what to tell my bride when I break the news tonight
I'll tell her, gather the acorns from the white oak tree
Roast them on the fire for me
I'll be home by this time next year
And we'll brew a poor man's coffee from our acorns and tears
Acorns and tears
Acorns and tears
We'll brew a poor man's coffee from our acorns and tears
My dad and my granddad both worked in the mines
It was the thing most folks did in those times
But times have changed and now I'm a man
The shovel and pickaxe gone, a rifle in my hands
And I'm thinking, gather the acorns from the white oak tree
Roast them on the fire for me
I'll be home by this time next year
And we'll brew a poor man's coffee from our acorns and tears
Acorns and tears
Acorns and tears
We'll brew a poor man's coffee from our acorns and tears
Coal mines and land mines both come at high cost
When you consider the lives that are lost
Here I lie bleeding my friend by my side
When I breathe to him words that are meant for my bride
And I tell her, gather the acorns from the white oak tree
Roast them on the fire for me
I'll be home by this time next year
And we'll brew a poor man's coffee from our acorns and tears
Acorns and tears
Acorns and tears
We'll brew a poor man's coffee from our acorns and tears
So gather the acorns from the white oak tree