Dear Mister Editor if you choose, Please send me a copy of the labor news. I've got a son in the Infantry, And he's be mighty glad to see That someone, somewhere, now and then, Thinks about the lives of the mining men, In Perry County.
In Perry County and thereabout We miners simply had to go out. It was long hours, substandard pay, Then they took our contract away. Fourteen months is a mighty long time To face the goons from the picket line In Perry County.
I'm twenty-six years a miner's wife, There's nothing harder than a miner's life, But there's no better man than a mining man, Couldn't find better in all this land. The deal they get is a rotten deal, Mountain greens and gravy meal, In Perry County.
We live in barns that the rain comes in While operators live high as sin, Ride Cadillac cars and drink like a fool While our kids lack clothes to go to school. Sheriff Combs he has it fine, He runs the law and owns a mine In Perry County.
What operator would go dig coal For even fifty a day on the mine pay-roll! Why, after work my man comes in With his wet clothes frozen to his skin, Been digging coal so the world can run And operators can have their fun In Perry County.
When folks sent money to the Hazard Press To help the strikers in distress, They gave that money, yours and mine, To the scabs who crossed the picket line, And the state militia and the F.B.I. Just look on while miners die In Perry County.
I believe the truth will out some day That we're fighting for jobs at decent pay. We're just tired of doing without, And that's what the strike is all about, And it helps to know that folks like you Are telling the story straight and true, About Perry County.