DESCRIPTION:
Pneumonoconiosis, commonly known as "Black Lung," is caused by breathing in coal dust over a long period of time. In its most dangerous form, even when coal dust is no longer breathed it can lead to respiratory problems and early death due to lumps forming in the lungs.

Hazel Jane Dickens (1935 -- 2011) was an American bluegrass singer songwriter and activist, who wrote provocative pro-union and feminist songs. The New York Times called her "a clarion-voiced advocate for coal miners and working people and a pioneer among women in bluegrass music." With Alice Gerrard, Dickens was one of the first women to record a bluegrass album. She wrote "Black Lung" for the documentary film Harlan County, U.S.A. (1978). It was inspired by the deaths of her older brothers and brothers-in-law from black lung and related diseases.

You can hear Hazel singing it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hvLoEcLBf0

And also an excellent cover by Kathy Mattea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RVVVSCR2I8

Lyrics and chords:
Dm
He’s had more hard luck than most men could stand;
............................... Am ................................ Dm
The mines was his first love, but never his friend;
........................... Am
He’s lived a hard life and hard he’ll die,
Dm
Black lung’s done got him, his time is nigh.

Black lung, black lung, you’re just biding your time;
Soon all of this suffering I’ll leave behind;
But I can’t help but wonder what God had in mind,
To send such a devil to claim this soul of mine.

He went to the boss man but he closed the door;
Well, it seems you’re not wanted when you’re sick and you’re poor;
You’re not even covered in their medical plans,
And your life depends on the favors of man.

Down in the poorhouse on starvation’s plan,
Where pride is a stranger and doomed is a man;
His soul full of coal dust till his body’s decayed,
And everyone but black lung’s done turned him away.

Black lung, black lung, oh your hand’s icy cold,
As you reach for my life and torture my soul;
Cold as that water hole down in that dark cave,
Where I spent my life’s blood diggin’ my own grave.

Down at the graveyard the bossman came,
With his little bunch of flowers, dear God, what a shame.
Take back those flowers, don’t you sing no sad songs;
The die has been cast now, a good man is gone.


It is usually sung a capella.

You can see a playlist of my mining songs here: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=CF909DA14CE415DF

For lyrics and chords of all my songs, please see my website:
http://raymondfolk.wikifoundry.com

Lyrics and chords of many of my songs are no longer available, as my website has expired. I am currently posting lyrics to the information panels on all my videos and those that are too long to post in full will be found on my new website: https://raymondsfolkpage.wordpress.com