Classic Poem

Oh who'll replace this old miner,
And who will take my place below,
And who will follow the trepanner,
O dear God, when I go?

Oh who will wield my heavy pick
That I did wield for forty years,
And who will hew the black, black coal,
Who, dear God, when I go?

Oh who will ride the miners' train
That takes him to the dark coal face?
Who'll take my place upon that train,
Who, dear God, when I go?

Oh who will load this great iron tub,
Oh who will strain his bending back,
And who will work, sweat and ache like hell,
Who, dear God, when I go?

Oh who will cry when the roof caves in,
When friends are dying all round,
And who will sing the miners' hymn,
Who, dear God, when I go?

For forty years I've loved the mine,
For forty years I've worked down there.
Now who'll replace this old coal miner
When I've paid God my fare?