The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #170229 Message #4116385
Posted By: GUEST,SirCoughsalot
13-Aug-21 - 08:32 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Miner's Lament (There Ain't No Way Out)
Subject: Lyr Req: Miner's Lament (There Ain't No Way Out)
As sung by the New Lost City Ramblers on their 90s release, There Ain't No Way Out. The Ramblers give their source as the LP Home on the Range: Folksongs from the University of Arizona Archive, 1945-1955, produced by Keith and Katherine Cunningham for the Arizona Friends of Folklore. Singers were Bob Thomas and Barton Wright, two anthropology grad students, recorded in the late 40s or early 50s by Frances Gillmor. No information available about the origin of the song, but Mike Seeger speculates that it may have been written off "Which Side Are You On?"
I have all the lyrics except one word I can't understand, replaced with question marks below. Here is a link to the Ramblers' recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8-JrcQczes
Oh my daddy was a miner, And I'm a miner, too And I'll be in this damned old mine Until I break in two
Refrain: Oh there ain't no way out, boys There ain't no way out
Now my daddy used to have an old poor farm Well we liked it just the same But the company said, "Get off this land, "Get off, you squatters and stay."
Now they say things ain't never half so bad When you sit on the steps and sing But singing don't help you a goddamn bit When you can't read a goddamn thing
Seems like I never get out of debt At the damned old company store Every month that rolls around I get in debt some more
Now my wife used to be a sweet little thing Till her babies starved and cried Now she works in an old beer joint And hustles on the side
Well I'm starting to get an old dry cough And my nails are turning blue I guess that damned old miner's ???? Is gonna get me too