Tank's Poetry
united states mine rescue association
Mine Disasters in the United States
 


Mining Music

Black Diamonds (Cherry Mine Fire)
by Ray Tutaj, Jr.

See also: Cherry Mine Fire

On the Net:
• Ray Tutaj, Jr. web site
• Cherry Mine Fire web site
• Cherry Mine Disaster Narration by Ray Tutaj, Jr.
• Contact Ray Tutaj, Jr.
• Trapped: The 1909 Cherry Mine Disaster
   by Karen Tintori


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November 13th, 1909, tragedy at the Cherry mine
Two hundred and fifty-nine, miners lost in a hungry fire
History, what have we here?
Misery, for souls to bear

Down below in the smoke-filled mine,
There were twenty-one men yet still alive
Eight days they fought to survive,
In the jaws of death they would not die
They’re alive, still alive
In a fight, fightin’ for their lives.

Hold on and don’t let go, don’t give up or you’ll never know
With a little faith and a little hope, and a little prayer, and it’ll get you there

The air was thin and poisoning, and the darkness caused delirium
No food nor water to nourish them, just a seed of faith to comfort them
They believed, oh they believed
They would see, blue skies again

Hold on and don’t let go, don’t give up or you’ll never know
With a little faith and a little hope, and a little prayer and it will get you there.

What a sight it must have been
For those twenty-one men to rise again
Rescued from the pits of hell
With a story only they could tell
I believe, I do believe
If you believe, you will achieve.

When all the world comes crashing down
Like trapped coal miners in the ground
And you feel like you’ve been left to die
And the world above can’t hear your cry

Believe, it’s gonna be alright
Believe, there’s gonna be some light
Believe, it’s gonna be alright
Believe, there’s gonna be sunlight.

Copyright Ray Tutaj, Jr.



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