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