Black Girl, In The Pines, Longest Train has been commonly traced to black convict coal miners. Sharpe collected a version in Kentucky and it is found around the southern mountains. As long as the convicts kept up with their work load traditionaly they'd be allowed to receive women, and be left alone. "Black girl, black girl what have I done, to have you turn your back on me, Ive robbed no bank I've killed no man I've done no hanging crime". The practice of leasing out convict for coal mining, and other forms of hard labor started right after the Civil War ended and continued in the mines until 1928, the practice didn't finally end until the mid 1960's, and for that matter it may have started up again.