Lyr Req: Miner's Lament (There Ain't No Way Out)

Subject: Lyr Req: Miner's Lament (There Ain't No Way Out)
From: GUEST,SirCoughsalot
Date: 13 Aug 21 - 08:32 AM

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

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Miner's Lament (There Ain't No Way Out)
From: GUEST,#
Date: 13 Aug 21 - 09:07 AM

I just listened to Charlie Parr's version which uses many of the stanzas you've posted, and the missing word is hack.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Miner's Lament (There Ain't No Way Out)
From: GUEST,#
Date: 19 Aug 21 - 01:18 PM

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