Cumberland Blues

Cumberland Blues -- Grateful Dead (Hunter, Garcia)

I can't stay much longer, Melinda, the sun is getting high,

I can't help you with your troubles if you won't help with mine.

I gotta get down, I gotta get down, I gotta get down to the mine.

You keep me up just one more night, I can't sleep here no more.

Little Ben clock says quarter 'til eight, you kept me up 'til four.

I gotta get down, I gotta get down, or I can't work there no more.

Lotta poor man make a five dollar bill, keep him happy all the time.

Some other fella's makin' nothin' at all and you can hear him cry,

"Can I go buddy, can I go down, take your shift at the mine?"

Gotta get down to the Cumberland mine

(Gotta get down to the Cumberland mine)

That's where I mainly spend my time.

Make good money, five dollars a day,

Made any more I might move away.

Lotta poor man got the Cumberland blues,

He can't win for losin',

Lotta poor man got to walk the line just to pay his union dues,

I don't know now, I just don't know, if I'm goin' back again.