phrases, sayings, idioms and expressions at

Dark as a Dungeon

Posted by ESC on October 03, 2003

In Reply to: Working in a coalmine posted by Lewis again on October 03, 2003

: : : Does anyone know phrase "sit in coalmine"? It is a part of lyrics in one song, and I just wanted to know if it has a meaning, because it doesn't make sense otherwise. It might also be some slangy expression.

: : often song lyrics are unclear - indeed there is a whole internet site devoted to misheard lyrics at kissthisguy.com (I recall).
: : If you tell us the song or more of the surrounding words, we can then clear it up for you.

: : (I do know of an old song "working in a coal mine" by Lee Dorsey, I think)

: Just checked - it was Lee Dorsey -lyrics as follows :

: Workin' in a coal mine
: Goin' down down down
: Workin' in a coal mine
: Whop! about to slip down
: Workin' in a coal mine
: Goin' down down down
: Workin' in a coal mine
: Whop! about to slip down
: Five o'clock in the mornin'
: I'm all ready up and gone
: Lord I am so tired
: How long can this go on?

: I'm workin' in a coal mine
: Goin' down down down
: Workin' in a coal mine
: Whop! about to slip down
: Workin' in a coal mine
: Goin' down down down
: Workin' in a coal mine
: Whop! about to slip down

: Cos I'm on call in the mornin'
: Oh I go by the coal
: But when Saturday goes around
: I'm too tired for havin' fun (Too tired for having fun)

: I been workin'in a coal mine
: Goin' down down down
: Workin' in a coal mine
: Whop! about to slip down
: Workin' in a coal mine
: Goin' down down down
: Workin' in a coal mine
: Whop! about to slip down

: Lord I am so tired
: How long can this go on?

: I'm workin' in a coal mine
: Goin' down down down
: Workin' in a coal mine
: Whop! about to slip down
: Workin' in a coal mine
: Goin' down down down
: Workin' in a coal mine
: Whop! about to slip down

: Five o'clock in the mornin'
: I'm all ready up and gone
: Lord I am so tired
: How long can this go on?

: I'm workin' in a coal mine
: Goin' down down down
: Workin' in a coal mine
: Whop! about to slip down
: Workin' in a coal mine
: Goin' down down down
: Workin' in a coal mine
: Whop! about to slip down

: Cos I'm on call in the mornin'
: Oh I go by the coal
: But when Saturday goes around
: I'm too tired for havin' fun (Too tired for having fun)

: I been workin'in a coal mine
: Goin' down down down
: Workin' in a coal mine
: Whop! about to slip down
: Workin' in a coal mine
: Goin' down down down
: Workin' in a coal mine
: Whop! about to slip down

I have to add:

DARK AS A DUNGEON
Merle Travis

Come all you young fellers, so young and so fine
And seek not your fortunes way down in the mine
It will form like a habit and seep in your soul
'Til the stream of your blood flows as black as the coal

It's dark as a dungeon and damp as the dew
Where the dangers are double and the pleasures are few
Where the rain never falls and the sun never shines
It's dark as a dungeon way down in the mines

There is many a man I have seen in my day
Who lived just to labor his whole life away
Like the fiend with his dope and the drunkard his wine
A man will have lust for the lure of the mine

It's dark as a dungeon and damp as the dew
Where the dangers are double and the pleasures are few
Where the rain never falls and the sun never shines
It's dark as a dungeon way down in the mines

I hope when I'm dead and the ages shall roll
That my body will blacken and turn into coal
I will look from the door of my heavenly home
And pity the miner a' diggin' my bones. . .

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