I'm a black lung miner from East Tennessee
Raised my family on cold dust and beans
That old black lung's got me no life left in me
Hang my lantern in the window, give my love to Marie

For twenty-five years I've worked in the mines
Where the earth is as black as a cold winter's night
There's millions in the ground, not a penny for me
Hang my lantern in the window, give my love to Marie

I've loved all my children, six sons of mine
I pray that they never have to work in the mine
For the black lung will get them, they'll die just like me
Hang my lantern in the window, give my love to Marie

There's frost on the ground, ice in the trees
The air is so heavy I can't hardly breathe
For the old black lung's got me and soon I'll be free
Hang my lantern in the window, give my love to Marie
Hang my lantern in the window, give my love to Marie