Workin’ in the coal mineGoin’ on down, downWorkin’ in a coal mineOops, about to slip downWorkin’ in a coal mineGoin’ on down, downWorkin’ in a coal mineOops, about to slip down
Ev’ry mornin’ at the mine you could see him arriveHe stood six foot six and weighed two forty fiveKinda broad at the shoulder and narrow at the hipAnd everybody knew, ya didn’t give no lip to Big John
(Big John, Big John)Big Bad John(Big John)
Nobody seemed to know where John called homeHe just drifted into town and stayed all aloneHe didn’t say much, he kinda quiet and shyAnd if you spoke at all, he just said, “Hi” to Big John
Somebody said he came from New OrleansWhere he got in a fight over a Cajun QueenAnd a crashin’ blow from a huge right handSent a Louisiana fellow to the Promised Land, Big John
(Big John, Big John)Big Bad John(Big John)
Then came the day at the bottom of the mineWhen a timber cracked and men started cryin’Miners were prayin’ and hearts beat fastAnd everybody thought that they’d breathed their last, ’cept John
Through the dust and the smoke of this man made hellWalked a giant of a man that the miners knew wellGrabbed a saggin’ timber, gave out with a groanAnd like a giant Oak tree, he just stood there alone, Big John
(Big John, Big John)Big Bad John(Big John)
And with all of his strength he gave a mighty shoveThen a miner yelled out, “There’s a light up above”And twenty men scrambled from a would-be graveNow there’s only one left down there to save, Big John
With jacks and timbers they started back downThen came that rumble way down in the groundAnd then smoke and gas belched out of that mineEverybody knew it was the end of the line for Big John
(Big John, Big John)Big Bad John(Big John)
Now they never reopened that worthless pitThey just placed a marble stand in front of itThese few words are written on that standAt the bottom of this mine lies a big, big man, Big John
J Short about 10 years ago
Workin’ in the coal mineGoin’ on down, downWorkin’ in a coal mineOops, about to slip downWorkin’ in a coal mineGoin’ on down, downWorkin’ in a coal mineOops, about to slip down
neverenoughgold about 10 years ago
Ev’ry mornin’ at the mine you could see him arriveHe stood six foot six and weighed two forty fiveKinda broad at the shoulder and narrow at the hipAnd everybody knew, ya didn’t give no lip to Big John
(Big John, Big John)Big Bad John(Big John)
Nobody seemed to know where John called homeHe just drifted into town and stayed all aloneHe didn’t say much, he kinda quiet and shyAnd if you spoke at all, he just said, “Hi” to Big John
Somebody said he came from New OrleansWhere he got in a fight over a Cajun QueenAnd a crashin’ blow from a huge right handSent a Louisiana fellow to the Promised Land, Big John
(Big John, Big John)Big Bad John(Big John)
Then came the day at the bottom of the mineWhen a timber cracked and men started cryin’Miners were prayin’ and hearts beat fastAnd everybody thought that they’d breathed their last, ’cept John
Through the dust and the smoke of this man made hellWalked a giant of a man that the miners knew wellGrabbed a saggin’ timber, gave out with a groanAnd like a giant Oak tree, he just stood there alone, Big John
(Big John, Big John)Big Bad John(Big John)
And with all of his strength he gave a mighty shoveThen a miner yelled out, “There’s a light up above”And twenty men scrambled from a would-be graveNow there’s only one left down there to save, Big John
With jacks and timbers they started back downThen came that rumble way down in the groundAnd then smoke and gas belched out of that mineEverybody knew it was the end of the line for Big John
(Big John, Big John)Big Bad John(Big John)
Now they never reopened that worthless pitThey just placed a marble stand in front of itThese few words are written on that standAt the bottom of this mine lies a big, big man, Big John
(Big John, Big John)Big Bad John(Big John)
(Big John)Big Bad John.c/o jimmy Dean, R.I.P.
kcycrs about 10 years ago
When it comes to mine-related songs I’m partial to “Sixteen Tons” sung by Tennessee Ernie Ford