Steamin' down the muddy waters
Travelin'
yonder from bay to bay
I been workin' on the
barge line
Fourteen years ago
today
Eighteen hours hard labor by the
day
Ain't much pay for a
man
Chorus:
Haulin' coal down the
down river
And he won't be comin' home for a
long time
Torches burning by the
riverside
Cast their shadows grey as
stone
And the cool October days
replacing
Much warmer thoughts of home
I
can still see grandma sittin' on the
porch
Tellin' the neighbors she's got a
grandson
Chorus:
Haulin' coal down
the down river
And he won't be comin' home
for a long time
River's rising up the
marker line
While the willows softly
moan
Sun is rising over the starboard
shore
Paving the golden road back
home
I can still see the kids jumpin'
rope
But there ain't much hope for a
man
Chorus:
Haulin' coal down the
down river
And he won't be comin' home for a
long time
Haulin' coal down the down
river
I'll be gone a long
time
Haulin' coal down the down
river
I'll be gone a long while
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