the miners, The Vincent Van Gogh Blues

i came here to help the poor
i thought Jesus would have done the same
and though i'm no longer so sure
the miners know why i came

i preached my first sermon
on a Sunday in May
well before the sun rose
for the miners on their way

down
down
into the mines they go
it must be what hell looks like
so dark is the coal
down
down
into the dark all day long
where they cough and spit up blood
even those who are young

i gave them my clothes
it's what Jesus would do
i gave them my money
i gave them my food

but the preachers back home
told me i wasn't right
that i needed to look good
and stand proud in the light

down
down
into the mines they go
it must be what hell looks like
so dark is the coal
down
down
into the dark all day long
where they cough and spit up blood
even those who are young

they made me stop preaching
told me to leave this dark land
so i gave all i had left
to a woman and man

i'm painting a portrait
of the family i knew
their humility and dignity
stay with me wherever i go

down
down
into the mines they go
it must be what hell looks like
so dark is the coal
down
down
into the dark all day long
where they cough and spit up blood
even those who are young

wkm
for Jeff Cavins and Vincent Van Gogh