Dust in the air, all through the mine
It's concrete on yer lungs and yer old before yer time
You may work on board a ship and ye'll gang to foreign lands
Ye can work upon a farm and run the good earth through your hands
Even in an office ye can breathe air fresh and fine
But yer coughing and yer spitting dust, a working down the mine
Dust in the air, all through the mine
It's concrete on yer lungs and yer old before yer time
The coal-seam rich and gleaming, aye it's far beneath the soil
Black coal is what they call it and it's won with sweat and toil
But when yer shift is over and yer gang to earn your rest
You'll never get to spend black gold, when it's lying on your chest
Dust in the air, all through the mine
It's concrete on yer lungs and yer old before yer time
Explosions blast the coal to powder, dust is in the air
Sierras and Trapanners with their picks to do their share
Conveyer-belts and fans, help to pass it along the line
And you can't escape that dust, when yer working down the mine
Dust in the air, all through the mine
It's concrete on yer lungs and yer old before yer time
But in the Tailgates an the Mothergates and on the long wall face
They've got masts an sprays and hoses, to keep it in it's place
Coal must be won the race is on, the picks and shovels fly
But you also need to breathe the air, that's going round and by
Dust in the air, all through the mine
It's concrete on yer lungs and yer old before yer time