Well, he's coming off the mountain
20 ton in tow
Rides his break 'til the windows shake
And every man hears it high and low
Let it slide down the ditch and cried
"This old hill's about to roll
You'll come away with more than a scratch or two
These strip job blues
Strip job blues
They say, "What you gain don't compare to what you lose"
Blasted seams and muddy streams
Put the critters on the move
Running from these strip job blues
Now, he started out a greenhorn
When he was 25
Cut his teeth on that South fork lease
Setting shot 'til he learned to drive
Running loads down those winding roads
He'd bring them hills alive
And say, "Gotta be a mad man if you choose"
These strip job blues
Strip job blues"
They say, "What you gain don't compare to what you lose"
And keep it low when the mountain goes
Don't be staring at your shoes
Walking round these
Strip job blues
♪
Now, he's loading up the dozer
Chaining down the tracks
Making room for the reclaim crew
On their way to try n' bring it back
In a little time there'll be brush and pine
Where those deer can rub their racks
Sit up high and hear 'em come crashing through
These strip job blues
Strip job blues
They say, "What you gain don't compare to what you lose"
Working down in those mining towns
You know there's many more than few
Living out those strip job blues
Yeah, you know they're
Living out those
Strip job blues