a jove, you'll call me a lad
As blithe as blithe can be
And let the times be good or bad
It's little of the world unknown
For where the dark star never glows,
Where the gleam of sunshine
Diggin' up the dusky diamonds,
Deep down in the coal mine,
Me hands are horny, hard and black,
through workin' in the vein
And like the clothes upon me back,
me speech is rough and plain
Well, if I stumble with me tongue,
It's not the collier's heart that's wrong,
it's the head that goes astray
Where a gleam of sunshine
Digging out the dusty diamonds
Deep down in the coal mine,
How little do the great ones
care who sit at home secure
What hidden dangers, holiest dare,
what hardships may endure
The very pile they sit beside to
cheer themselves and wives
Mayhap was kindled at the cost
Where the gleam of sunshine
Diggin' up the dusky diamonds,
Deep down in the coal mine,
and make the most of every joy you can
And always let your mirth be
such as best befits a man
For let the times be good or bad,
we'll still be jovial souls
Britain be without the lads at
Where a gleam of sunshine
Diggin' up the dusky diamonds,
Deep down in the coal mine,