I cant stay much longer, melinda, the sun is getting high.
I cant help you with your troubles, if you wont help with mine.
I gotta get down, I gotta get down, I gotta get down to the mine.

You keep me up just one more night, I cant sleep here no more.
Little ben clock says quarter to eight; you kept me up till four.
I gotta get down, I gotta get down, or I cant work there no more.

A lotta poor man make a five dollar bill, keep him happy all the time.
Some other fellas makin nothin at all and you can hear him cry,
Can I go, buddy, can I go down take your shift at the mine?

Gotta get down to the cumberland mine.
Gotta get down to the cumberland mine.
Thats where I mainly spend my time.
Make good money, five dollars a day. made anymore, I might move away.

Lotta poor man got the cumberland blues he cant win for losin
Lotta poor man got to walk the line just to pay his union dues.
I dont know now, I just dont know if Im goin back again.
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/g/grateful+dead/cumberland+blues_20062539.html ]