Unknown - West Virginia Mining Disaster Lyrics

West Virginia Mining Disaster
(Jean Ritchie)

Say, did you see him walking? it was early this morning
He passed by your house on his way to the coal
He was tall, he was slender, and his blue eyes so tender
His occupation was miner, West Virginia his home

It was just about noon, I was feeding the children
Ben Moseley come running for to give us the news
Number eight is all flooded, many men are in danger
And we don't know their number, but we fear they're all doomed

So I picked up the baby and I left all the others
For to comfort each other and pray for our own
There's Timmy, fourteen, and there's John not much younger
Soon their own time will be coming to go down the black hole

Now if I had the money to do more than just feed them
I'd give them good learning, the best could be found
And when they grew up they'd be checkers and weighers
And not spend their life drilling in the dark underground

And it's what will I tell to my three little children?
And what will I tell his dear mother at home?
And it's what will I tell to my poor heart that's dying?
My heart that's surely dying since my darling is gone

Say, did you see him walking? it was early this morning
He passed by your house on his way to the coal
He was tall, he was slender, and his blue eyes so tender
His occupation was miner, West Virginia his home