When the whistle blows each morning
And I walk down in that cold, dark mine
I say a prayer to my dear Saviour
Please let me see the sunshine one more time

Chorus:

When oh when will it be over
When will I lay these burdens down
And when I die, dear Lord, in heaven
Please take my soul from 'neath that cold, dark ground

I still grieve for my poor brother
And I still hear my dear old mother cry
When late that night they came and told her
He'd lost his life down in the Big Shoal Mine

Chorus:

When oh when will it be over
When will I lay these burdens down
And when I die, dear Lord, in heaven
Please take my soul from 'neath that cold, dark ground

I have no shame, I feel no sorrow
If on this earth not much I own
I have the love of my sweet children
An old plow mule, a shovel and a hoe

Chorus:

When oh when will it be over
When will I lay these burdens down
And when I die, dear Lord, in heaven
Please take my soul from 'neath that cold, dark ground

Yeah when I die, dear Lord, in heaven
Please take my soul from 'neath that cold, dark ground