The Paradise of Lime and Coal

Music and lyrics by Whitney Smith, ©1998, SOCAN

Oh, dear Mary, hear my lullaby

From this dusty hole there is no sky,

Through the boulders I have heard the cries,

Through the cracks I have seen the angel's eyes.

In the gutter in the morning rain,

In the rising sun, in a drunken brain.

God, it's me! This man of little worth

Who my Mary caught as he fell to earth.

But again the sky has dropped, my love,

Here I wait while the boss sleeps up above.

Oh, unlucky me with the lucky soul!

In the paradise of lime and coal.

In the paradise . . .

Oh, my darling, hear this miner's prayer,

In rebellion there is no despair.

Send the starving fishermen out to sea

Let them know your lamp is lit for me!

Oh, dear Mary, call those men to come!

Bring the Book, bring a shirt, bring a cup of rum.

I have sat one week and dreamed of light

Of you and sleep and the endless night.

But again the sky has dropped, my love,

Here I wait while the boss sleeps up above.

Oh, unlucky me with the lucky soul!

In the paradise of lime and coal.

In the paradise . . .

It is midnight in this cold quiet cove

Seven boys, one girl watch the fire in the stove.

Watching me with breath enough to sigh

To the end of my Mary's lullaby

In the paradise of lime and coal.

In the paradise . . .

In the paradise of lime and coal.

In the paradise . . . in the paradise.