Coal Dust on the Collar

Five A.M., the whistle calls Boots laced tight in the kitchen dark Mama left me biscuits cold The dog don't even lift his bark

Drove the Ford with one good tire Punched the clock with a busted thumb Foreman knows my daddy's name Daddy's name is what I come from

Coal dust on the collar, son Coal dust on the collar Buy a Sunday shirt for a Saturday brawl Blood on the cuff and the dollar Coal dust on the collar

Wife packs the lunch, two slices of meat A pickle wrapped in waxed-up sheet Says she loves me, leaves the room Don't come close to my work-clothes smell

Eight hours down, eight hours under Eight hours where the angels won't go Heard a man die in shaft number nine Foreman said keep diggin', keep low

Coal dust on the collar, son Coal dust on the collar Buy a Sunday shirt for a Saturday brawl Blood on the cuff and the dollar Coal dust on the collar

Daddy died in a rib-cave back in '74 Mama scrubbed the soot off his face Now I scrub mine in the same damn sink With the same damn rag and the same damn place

Coal dust on the collar, boys Coal dust on the collar There ain't no soap that'll wash this clean There ain't no god that'll holler Coal dust on the collar Coal dust on the collar

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