I can't stay much longer, melinda, the sun is getting high. I can't help you with your troubles, if you won't help with mine. I gotta get down, i gotta get down, i gotta get down to the mine. You keep me up just one more night, i can't sleep here no more. Little ben clock says quarter to eight; you kept me up 'till four. I gotta get down, i gotta get down, or i can't work there no more. A lotta poor man make a five dollar bill, keep him happy all the time. Some other fella's makin' nothin' at all and you can hear him cry, "can i go, buddy, can i go down take your shift at the mine?" Gotta get down to the cumberland mine. Gotta get down to the cumberland mine. That's where i mainly spend my time. Make good money, five dollars a day. made anymore, i might move away. Lotta poor man got the cumberland blues he can't win for losin' Lotta poor man got to walk the line just to pay his union dues. I don't know now, i just don't know if i'm goin' back again.