The Miner from Land by Erma

Here’s my miner coming in
With soot upon his boot
With a diamond in his hand
He’ll make me someone new
Take me in my youth
Make me someone who

Washes blood off others hands
And leaves my own to
Stain the wood of this old house
My jailbird tattoo

There’s nothing I wouldn’t do
For my miner, I love him true

Oh my miner, my pitman
Bless his skillful grip
That stole me from my father’s hand
And carved me out lip to hip
He made me a woman
Mild, meek, and obedient
But as a mine guts a mountain
So to him the years did

His grip began to slip
And brought down my illusions with it

I hear the miner coming in
In his heavy mood
With breath so raw
Sandpaper skin
And teeth stained by chew
Darling, you were a good man
Before the darkness got to you
And long before the ships came in
And breached the shores where we grew

He swung up with open hand
I cursed and damned the land
I said look what you’ve done to
This once God fearing son

And here’s the miner coming in
To closed up hob and flue
No Shepherd’s pie or black pudding
No coal to keep our fire blue
And oh god what am I to do?

And what for this life I gave away?
The rest is hung on the wire
It’s just me and my miner
My pitman and I

• Alternative
• acoustic
• pop
• singer-songwriter
• songstress
• New Westminster