Before that sun gets to rise through them lonesome pines

I′m in my truck heading for a long day down at the mine

Black coffee and a cigarette keeps me on my feet

It wouldn't take much to knock me

down ′cause Lord knows that I'm beat

I crawl back a couple miles in what might be my grave

Dig another ton for the boss 'cause coal is all he craves

He sits up in his big old house

counting hundred dollar bills

We skin our knees and break our backs

and try to stay off the pills

I know I′m getting closer with every inch I go

Hell is a real place, that′s one thing I know

Can't see your hand in front of you

you don′t know where you are

I know God must be real 'cause the devil′s not that far

12 hours underground will bring a grown man to his knees

Breakdowns and rock falls, hell is all I see

I could do like my daddy, and grow plants back in the hill

But come to think I'd better not

′cause that's what got him killed

I know I'm getting closer with every inch I go

Hell is a real place, that′s one thing I know

Can′t see your hand in front of you

you don't know where you are

I know God must be real ′cause the devil's not that far

I′ve got a wife, a piece of land, I got three little kids

I'm doing better for them now than my folks ever did

It puts food on our table, keeps the house warm at night

It′s the only thing, it makes it

Worth crawling down that damn coal mine

I know I'm getting closer with every inch I go

Hell is a real place, that's one thing I know

Can′t see your hand in front of you

you don′t know where you are

I know God must be real 'cause the devil′s not that far

Yeah, I know God must be real

'Cause the devil′s not that far