This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Shotgun houses, shanty shacks
Countin' those ties on the railroad track
Thirty-four more, it's almost time
To see my baby walking out of that
Coalmine, covered with dust
T-shirt tied, all muscled up
All mine, head to toe
Come on, come on whistle, blow
I can't wait to get him home
Ain't gonna have nothing but
The supper on
Gonna keep him busy 'til it's time
He goes back to that coalmine
Some girls like them gussied up
Wearing all that smelly stuff
To me there's nothing quite so fine
As my man standing out in front of that
Coalmine, covered with dust
T-shirt tied, all muscled up
All mine, head to toe
Come on, come on whistle, blow
Power's out, well that's all right
We'll make love by a miner's light
Gonna keep him busy 'til it's time
He goes back to that coalmine
Shotgun houses, shanty shacks
Countin' those ties on the railroad track
Just two more, it's almost time
To see my baby walking out of that
Coalmine
Coalmine, covered with dust
T-shirt tied, all muscled up
All mine, head to toe
Come on, come on whistle, blow
Don't want no white-collared man
Midnight, I like calloused hands
To keep me busy 'til it's time
He goes back to that coalmine
I can't wait to get him home
Ain't gonna have nothing but
The supper on
Power's out, well that's all right
We'll make love by a miner's light
Don't want no white-collared man
Midnight, I like calloused hands
To keep me busy 'til it's time
He goes back to that coalmine
Countin' those ties on the railroad track
Thirty-four more, it's almost time
To see my baby walking out of that
Coalmine, covered with dust
T-shirt tied, all muscled up
All mine, head to toe
Come on, come on whistle, blow
I can't wait to get him home
Ain't gonna have nothing but
The supper on
Gonna keep him busy 'til it's time
He goes back to that coalmine
Some girls like them gussied up
Wearing all that smelly stuff
To me there's nothing quite so fine
As my man standing out in front of that
Coalmine, covered with dust
T-shirt tied, all muscled up
All mine, head to toe
Come on, come on whistle, blow
Power's out, well that's all right
We'll make love by a miner's light
Gonna keep him busy 'til it's time
He goes back to that coalmine
Shotgun houses, shanty shacks
Countin' those ties on the railroad track
Just two more, it's almost time
To see my baby walking out of that
Coalmine
Coalmine, covered with dust
T-shirt tied, all muscled up
All mine, head to toe
Come on, come on whistle, blow
Don't want no white-collared man
Midnight, I like calloused hands
To keep me busy 'til it's time
He goes back to that coalmine
I can't wait to get him home
Ain't gonna have nothing but
The supper on
Power's out, well that's all right
We'll make love by a miner's light
Don't want no white-collared man
Midnight, I like calloused hands
To keep me busy 'til it's time
He goes back to that coalmine
Lyrics submitted by Simplethings18
Coalmine Lyrics as written by Ron Harbin Richie Mcdonald
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Anthem Entertainment
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Self-explanatory, and oh so true. Coal miners work hard and play hard, take that as you will. This is a nice tribute to them.