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