Old Iron Mine
Hardship in the Depths: Danny Frank's Old Iron Mine Tale
Lyrics
I keep on picking down on the line
I continue to work diligently on the job.
In that cold lonesome hole in that old iron mine
In a desolate and cold place, specifically an old iron mine.
We start before dawn and ain't finished 'til night
We start our work early in the morning and finish late at night.
It's been seven long weeks I ain't seen the daylight
Seven weeks have passed without seeing daylight due to intense work.
I left the old country to find a new way
I left my homeland seeking a new life.
To find me a wife, raise a nice family
My goal was to find a spouse and build a happy family.
But all I been doin' since I came to this place
Since arriving, all I've done is work hard for very little pay.
Is workin' my tail off for pennies a day
Struggling to make ends meet with minimal wages.
They say men have left their souls down there to die
Rumors suggest that workers lose their humanity in the mine.
With no hope left in sight and just ghosts in their eyes
Hope is scarce, and workers are haunted by their experiences.
I've even heard tell some men never came back
Some workers never return, abandoned by the company in the mine.
and the company left them buried down in the shaft
The company leaves some workers buried underground.
Boss man says not to worry it's safe underground
The boss assures safety underground, emphasizing the importance of mining.
Plus the iron we're mining keeps the world spinning round
The iron mined contributes to the functioning of the world.
It's just damn hard to tell all the truth from the lies
Distinguishing truth from lies is challenging in this environment.
How can we trust him when we can't we can't unionize?
Workers can't trust the boss enough to form a union.
Finns and Norwegians, Italians and Jews
Diverse nationalities work together, facing similar challenges.
We all live different stories but we wear the same shoes
Different backgrounds, same struggles; shared experiences in the mine.
They put us in crews mixed up one of each kind
Assigned to mixed crews, hindered by language barriers.
We don't speak the same language so we can't organize
Linguistic differences prevent effective organization.
People ask why we do it, well we ain't got no choice
Workers have no other option but to endure these conditions.
Puttin' food on the table for our little girls and boys
Providing for their families motivates workers despite hardships.
It's dark and it's dirty, and you can't hardly breath
The mine is dark, dirty, and the air is difficult to breathe.
But we're all down here living, just living the American dream
Despite challenges, workers see themselves living the American dream.
20 years in that hole now they're closing the mine
After two decades, the mine is closing due to economic downturns.
They say prices are down 'cause ain't nobody buying
Low demand for iron is impacting job stability.
Pickin' that Iron is all I've ever known
The speaker reflects on a life dedicated to iron mining.
Ain't no jobs in this town so I gotta get going
Lack of job opportunities forces the speaker to leave their town.
I'll be leaving my family for weeks at time
Leaving family behind for extended periods in search of work.
lookin for work that I may never find
The uncertainty of finding employment in a competitive job market.
But I know when I get back there's love in that home
Anticipating the warmth and love awaiting upon returning home.
Ain't nothing like family when you're feeling, feeling so low
Family provides solace during challenging times.
I keep on picking down on the line in that
Continuing to work in the mine, facing the challenges head-on.
Cold lonesome hole in that old iron mine
Reiterating the lonely and cold nature of the old iron mine.
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