The Machine

[Intro]
...is not very popular in the coal mines

[Intro Verse]
You know, it's a heck of a note
A man can spend his entire life down in a coal mine
Then along comes progress and up steps a machine called the continuous miner
And scares all his groceries off

[Verse 1]
I can't buy Rebecca no new ribbons
We can't take no Sunday walks
The kids would cry for ice cream
And I'd be broke 'cause I've been laid off
All I know is Kentucky coal mines
But they've got that new machine
And it does my job and does it better
And it don't knock off for bread and beans

[Chorus]
That machine can work all day and night
And its back don't ever ache
It's got no kids that want a tater
No wife to wish for a steak
So it don't make the company mad
A-begging for a nickel raise
That machine's the perfect miner
Faithful John has been replaced

[Verse 2]
I've spent years and years in tunnels
And I've fought Satan over coal
I stole his fuel for making brimstone
When I left, his fire was low
But mighty deeds don't matter here
Where Mister Coal is king
He'll lay me off next Friday night
Then hire that new machine

[Chorus]
That machine can work all day and night
And it's never got a gripe
It won't cuss or call the union
Holler, advocate a strike
'cause it don't care if water fountains
Don't run cold or clean
So they don't want me, 'cause I'm human
They just want that new machine

[Outro]
I'd like to get my hands on some of them new machines