WORKING MAN
Celtic Thunder and George Donaldson Lyrics
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And I've been down underground
And I swear to God
If I ever see the sun
Oh for any length of time
I can hold it in my mind
I never again
At the age of sixteen years
Oh he quarrels with his peers
He vowed they'd never
See another one
In the dark recess of the mine
Where you age before your time
And the coal dust lies heavy
On your lungs
It's a working man I am
And I've been down underground
And I swear to God
If I ever see the sun
Oh for any length of time
I can hold it in my mind
I never again
Will go down underground
At the age of sixty four
He will greet you at the door
And he will gently lead you
By the arm
Through the dark recess of the mine
He will take you back in time
And he'll tell you of
The hardships that were had
It's a working man I am
And I've been down underground
And I swear to God
If I ever see the sun
Oh for any length of time
I can hold it in my mind
I never again will go down underground
I never again will go down underground
The Celtic Thunder song "Working Man" is a tribute to the hardworking men who labor underground in coal mines. The lyrics express the grim reality of life in the mines; the coal dust that lies heavy on your lungs, and the toll that working in the mines takes on your body. The singer, a former miner himself, reminisces about his days underground, and vows never to go back again. He also tells the story of an old miner who still remembers the hardships of working in the mines, and who still wears the scars of his years underground.
The song's use of repetition emphasizes the toughness of the workers in the mines. The chorus repeats the phrase "I've been down underground" and "If I ever see the sun" to drive home the point about the difficult conditions of the mine. The lyrics also use a variety of figurative language to describe the mines, such as "the dark recess" and "age before your time." These descriptions add a layer of meaning to the lyrics, and help the listener to understand the emotional toll that working in the mines takes on those who do it.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a working man I am
I am a hard worker.
And I've been down underground
I have worked in underground mines.
And I swear to God
I make a solemn promise.
If I ever see the sun
If I ever have the chance to leave the dark mines.
Oh for any length of time
Even if only for a brief moment.
I can hold it in my mind
I can remember the feeling of seeing the sun.
I never again
I refuse to.
Will go down underground
Work in the dark, dangerous mines.
At the age of sixteen years
When he was only sixteen.
Oh he quarrels with his peers
He had conflicts with his fellow miners.
He vowed they'd never
He promised they would never.
See another one
Experience another mining accident or tragedy.
In the dark recess of the mine
Deep within the dark mines, where it is difficult to see and breathe.
Where you age before your time
A place where the conditions are so harsh, that they accelerate aging.
And the coal dust lies heavy
The coal dust is thick and suffocating.
On your lungs
It makes it hard to breathe.
At the age of sixty four
At the age of sixty-four.
He will greet you at the door
He will welcome you with open arms.
And he will gently lead you
He will guide you softly.
By the arm
Holding your arm.
Through the dark recess of the mine
Through the same dark mines he used to work in.
He will take you back in time
He will tell you about the past and what he went through.
And he'll tell you of
He will inform you of.
The hardships that were had
The difficulties that the miners faced.
I never again will go down underground
I will not go back to working in the mines ever again.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RITA MACNEIL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Amelia Summers
First song I ever heard by Celtic Thunder. Became a fan for life.
Matt Burton
A childhood favourite of mine. George's version is excellent!
somegalfromcan
I have this lovely image in my head of Rita MacNeil and George Donaldson singing this as a duet in heaven. May they both rest in peace.
Caldella
Currently working on a work of historic fiction where the main character goes to work in a mine in the Victorian era. Some versions of this song are on his playlist for me to be inspired while I write. Now I can add this one. It's perfect. <3
Betty Spearns
Loved this! Can't believe it's been 3 years since George left us! ❤️
Sheila Smith
One of my absolute favourites thank you !!!!
elizabeth brawley
beautiful song.
Kayla M Cook
God, I miss George. Such a beautiful man in every way.
Anna Devereaux
Fantastic and every coal miner sure can relate to this song. Thank you!
Anna Spelman
I always loved to hear George sing with them miss him.