Billy Edd's original version had the word "mule" and not "man" but everybody changed it to man, even Billy Edd'd own later versions. While I understand why, I find the miner's attachment to his hard working and always trusted friend, who, at times, may have been closer to the miner than his family, made perfect sense in this coal miner's poet.
    Otherwise the above is right. It was on the "Paper Birds B.E.W." recording by Kapp. One of his bests with also "The Can't put it back".