Lyr Req: Thirty Inch Coal (Mike Paxton)

Subject: Lyrics: Thirty-inch coal?
From: AnnieT
Date: 22 Jun 99 - 11:43 AM

I'm missing some words for the song "Thirty-inch Coal", written by Mike Paxton in the '60s (I think). I have a tape of a live performance of David Morris singing this song, but can't figure out the first couple lines to the last verse.

Thanks for your help!

Subject: RE: Word request: Thirty-inch coal
From: Stewie
Date: 17 Aug 01 - 12:06 AM

I would like these too. I have the song on a Men of the Deeps album, but can't decipher several lines. Can anyone assist?

--Stewie.

Subject: Lyr Add: THIRTY INCH COAL (Mike Paxton)
From: raredance
Date: 17 Aug 01 - 09:41 PM

THIRTY INCH COAL
(words & music by Mike Paxton, Adkins Music BMI, Orange Park. FL)

Grab your pick and shovel, bring your safety light,
Don't forget your fuses and your dynamite,
Put on your knee pads and your safety toes;
We're goin' to the coal mine where the coal is low.

Chorus:
Ridin' on a lizard in the thirty-inch coal;
See the cable sparklin', watch the little wheels roll.
Now, Lord, have mercy on a miner's soul,
Down on your poor knees in the thirty-inch coal.

Timber up that heading, set the wedges tight
Or your wife and your children won't see you tonight.
Spread out a little rock dust, spread a little more
To keep the coal dust on the mining floor.

Recordings:

Come All You Coal Miners (Rounder Records 4005)
Diamonds In the Rough (Men of the Deeps Music MD 1025)

text is from ""And Now The Fields Are Green": A Collection of Coal Mining Songs In Canada" by John C O'Donnell (1992 University College of Cape Breton Press, isbn 0-920336-43-4)

John O'Donnell was for many years the music director of The Men of The Deeps.

rich r

Subject: RE: Word request: Thirty-inch coal
From: Stewie
Date: 17 Aug 01 - 11:47 PM

rich r, many thanks for taking the trouble to post the lyrics. It is much appreciated.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thirty-inch coal
From: GUEST,another verse
Date: 06 Feb 14 - 09:08 AM

Here's another verse.

Make a brattice yonder, make a brattice tight,
or you wife and children won't see you tonight.

Oops, and I forgot the next two lines.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thirty-inch coal
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Feb 14 - 10:58 AM

Voices from the Mountains - Page 111

Worth a look at Google Books

Use a Google of

Spread out a little rock dust, spread a little bit more To keep that coal dust on the mining floor.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thirty-inch coal
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Feb 14 - 11:09 AM

The alternate verse and chorus are on that page. Written by Mike Paxton. I don't know how to make the print bigger to read it.

Subject: Lyr Add: THIRTY INCH COAL (Mike Paxton)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 08 Feb 14 - 07:32 PM

From Voices from the Mountains edited by Guy Carawan and Candie Carawan (Athens, GA: University of Georgia Press, 1997 [originally published: New York: Knopf, 1975]), page 111:


THIRTY INCH COAL
Words & music by Mike Paxton
As sung by George Tucker
©1969 by Adkins Music Co.

Grab a pick and shovel, bring your safety light,
Don't forget your fuses and your dynamite,
Put on your knee pads and your safety toes;
We're going to the coal mine where the coal is low.

CHORUS: Ridin' on a lizard in the thirty-inch coal;
See the cable sparklin', watch the little wheels roll.
Now, Lord, have mercy on a miner's soul,
Down on your poor knees in the thirty-inch coal.

Timber up that heading, set the wedges tight
Or your wife and your children won't see you tonight.
Spread out a little rock dust, spread a little bit more
To keep that coal dust on the mining floor.

Alternative verses and chorus by Mike Paxton:

Make a brattice yonder; make a brattice there.
Gotta give the miner a little breathin' air.
Spread around that rock dust; spread a little more.
Keep that fiery coal dust smothered on the floor.

CHORUS: Ridin' on a lizard in the thirty-inch coal,
Drag cable a-sparkin' as the little wheels roll,
Workin' like a beaver, diggin' like a mole,
Down on my knees in the thirty-inch coal.

Timber up that heading; make the wedges tight,
Or your wife and children won't see you tonight.
Waiting is that mountain, as it's always been.
Waiting is that mountain that swallowed up your kin.