Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Dorsey was a childhood friend of Fats Domino before moving to Portland, Oregon when he was ten years old. He served in the United States Navy in World War II and then began a career in prizefighting. Boxing as a lightweight in Portland in the early 1950s, he fought under the name Kid Chocolate and was reasonably successful. He retired from boxing in 1955 and returned to New Orleans, where he opened an auto repair business as well as singing in clubs at night.
His first recording was "Lottie Mo", for the small Valiant label in 1958, and he also recorded for the Rex label. These efforts were unsuccessful, but around 1960 he was discovered by A&R man Marshall Sehorn, who secured him a contract with Fury Records, owned by Bobby Robinson. After meeting songwriter and record producer Allen Toussaint at a party, he recorded "Ya Ya", a song inspired by a group of children chanting nursery rhymes. It went to number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961, sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. Although the follow-up "Do-Re-Mi" also made the charts, later releases on Fury were not successful. Dorsey returned to running his repair business, but also released singles on the small Smash and Constellation labels in 1963 and 1964.
He was then approached again by Toussaint, and recorded Toussaint's song "Ride Your Pony" for the Amy label, a subsidiary of Bell Records. The song reached no.7 on the R&B chart in late 1965, and he followed it up with "Get Out Of My Life, Woman", "Working in the Coal Mine" – his biggest pop hit – and "Holy Cow", all of which made the pop charts in both the US and the UK. Dorsey toured internationally, and also recorded an album with Toussaint, The New Lee Dorsey in 1966. In 1970 Dorsey and Toussaint collaborated on the album Yes We Can; the title song was Dorsey's last entry in the US singles chart. It was later a hit for the Pointer Sisters under the title, "Yes We Can Can". With declining sales, Dorsey then returned to his auto repair business.
In 1976 Dorsey appeared on the album I Don't Want to Go Home by Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, which led to more recordings on his own with ABC Records, including the album Night People. In 1980, he opened for English punk band The Clash on their US concert tour, and also toured in support of James Brown and Jerry Lee Lewis.
Dorsey contracted emphysema and died on December 2, 1986, in New Orleans, at the age of 61.
Dorsey's songs have been covered by artists as diverse as Petula Clark ("Ya Ya Twist," a 1962 French version of "Ya Ya") and Devo ("Working in the Coal Mine"). "Ya Ya" was also covered on John Lennon's Rock 'n' Roll album. His version of the Allen Toussaint song "Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky (From Now On)" is referenced in the Beastie Boys' song lyrics for "Sure Shot" - "...everything I do is funky like Lee Dorsey." "Ya Ya" was spoken by Cheech Marin in Cheech and Chong's Next Movie, as he was waiting for his girlfriend.
Discography
Albums
Ya Ya (1962)
Ride Your Pony (1966)
The New Lee Dorsey (1966)
Working in the Coalmine (1967)
Yes We Can (1970)
Night People (1978)
Chart singles
"Ya Ya" U.S. Pop #7/R&B #1 (1961)
"Do-Re-Mi" U.S. #27/#22 (1962)
"Ride Your Pony" U.S. #28/#7 (1965)
"Get Out Of My Life, Woman" U.S. #44/#5/ UK #22 (1966)
"Confusion" UK #38 (1966)
"Working in the Coal Mine" U.S. #8/#5/UK #8 (1966)
"Holy Cow" U.S. #23/#10/UK #6 (1966)
"My Old Car" U.S. #97 (1967)
"Go-Go Girl" U.S. #62/#31 (1967)
"Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky (From Now On)" U.S. #95/#33 (1969)
"Yes We Can - Part 1" --/#46 (1970)
"Night People" --/#93 (1978)
Working In The Coalmine
Lee Dorsey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Goin' down, down, down
Workin' in a coal mine
Oops, about to slip down
Workin' in a coal mine
Goin' down down, down
Workin' in a coal mine
Oops, about to slip down
Five o'clock in the mornin'
I'm already up and gone
Lord, I'm so tired
How long can this go on?
Da-da, workin' in a coal mine
Goin' down, down, down
Workin' in a coal mine
Oops, about to slip down
Workin' in a coal mine
Goin' down, down, down
Workin' in a coal mine
Oops, about to slip down
'Course I make a little money
Haulin' coal by the ton
But when Saturday rolls around
I'm too tired for havin' fun
Too tired for havin'
I'm just workin' in the coal mine
Goin' down, down, down
Workin' in a coal mine
Oops, about to slip down
Workin' in a coal mine
Goin' down, down, down
Workin' in a coal mine
Oops, about to slip down
Lord, I'm so tired
How long can this go on?
Da-da, workin' in a coal mine
Goin' down, down, down
Workin' in a coal mine
Oops, about to slip down
Workin' in a coal mine
Goin' down, down, down
Workin' in a coal mine
Oops, about to slip down
Five o'clock in the mornin'
I'm already up and gone
Lord, I'm so tired
How long can this go on?
Da-da, workin' in a coal mine
Goin' down, down, down
Workin' in a coal mine
Oops, about to slip down
Workin' in a coal mine
Goin' down, down, down
Workin' in a coal mine
Oops, about to slip down
'Course I make a little money
Haulin' coal by the ton
But when Saturday rolls around
I'm too tired for havin' fun
Too tired for havin'
I'm just workin' in a coal mine
Goin' down, down, down
Workin' in a coal mine
Oops, about to slip down
Workin' in a coal mine
Goin' down, down, down
Workin' in a coal mine
Oops, about to slip down
Lord, I'm so tired
Lee Dorsey's song "Working in the Coal Mine" is a classic, up-tempo R&B track about the grueling and repetitive work done by coal miners. The lyrics describe the experience of a miner who wakes up early in the morning and goes to work, only to become increasingly exhausted throughout the day. The song is marked by its catchy refrain, "Goin' down, down, down / Workin' in a coal mine / Oops, about to slip down." The repetition of these lines highlights the monotony and danger of the work, while the use of the phrase "oops" creates a sense of unpredictability and imminent danger.
The lyrics of the song convey the physical and mental strain that working in a coal mine can take on a person. The singer of the song describes waking up early in the morning, already tired before he even begins work. As the day goes on, he becomes more and more exhausted, highlighted by the repetition of the refrain. The lyrics also touch on the fact that while he might earn some money hauling coal, it takes such a toll on his body that he is too tired to enjoy his weekends.
"Working in the Coal Mine" was originally written and recorded by Allen Toussaint, but Lee Dorsey's version was the one that received widespread commercial success. The song was originally released in 1966 and reached number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Interestingly, the song became even more popular in the UK, where it reached number five on the UK Singles Chart. The popularity of the song has endured over the years, with it being used in various films and TV shows, including The Simpson and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Line by Line Meaning
Workin' in a coal mine
Engaged in the physically taxing and dangerous work of extracting coal from underground mines
Goin' down, down, down
Descending deeper into the mine shaft in order to perform one's duties
Oops, about to slip down
Aware of the ever-present risk of accidents or deaths due to the unstable and cramped working conditions in the mine
Five o'clock in the mornin'
Beginning work at a very early hour, before dawn
I'm already up and gone
Already awake, dressed, and ready for the long and arduous day ahead
Lord, I'm so tired
Feeling physically exhausted and mentally drained from the grueling and repetitive nature of the work
How long can this go on?
Wondering how much longer one can continue to endure this demanding and perilous profession
'Course I make a little money
Acknowledging that the only incentive for putting up with the harsh working conditions is the modest income earned for hauling coal
Haulin' coal by the ton
Transporting large amounts of coal out of the mine, often on one's back or in a cart or truck
But when Saturday rolls around
Looking forward to one's day off, which only comes once a week
I'm too tired for havin' fun
Feeling too drained and exhausted to enjoy any leisure activities or socializing on weekends
Too tired for havin'
Repeating the idea that the fatigue and exhaustion from work leave no energy or enthusiasm for leisure pursuits
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Allen Toussaint
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@presidentofallfoodnice8113
Workin' in a coal mine
Goin' down, down, down
Workin' in a coal mine
Oops, about to slip down
Workin' in a coal mine
Goin' down down, down
Workin' in a coal mine
Oops, about to slip down
Five o'clock in the mornin'
I'm already up and gone
Lord, I'm so tired
How long can this go on?
Da-da, workin' in a coal mine
Goin' down, down, down
Workin' in a coal mine
Oops, about to slip down
Workin' in a coal mine
Goin' down, down, down
Workin' in a coal mine
Oops, about to slip down
'Course I make a little money
Haulin' coal by the ton
But when Saturday rolls around
I'm too tired for havin' fun
Too tired for havin'
I'm just workin' in the coal mine
Goin' down, down, down
Workin' in a coal mine
Oops, about to slip down
Workin' in a coal mine
Goin' down, down, down
Workin' in a coal mine
Oops, about to slip down
Lord, I'm so tired
How long can this go on?
Da-da, workin' in a coal mine
Goin' down, down, down
Workin' in a coal mine
Oops, about to slip down
Workin' in a coal mine
Goin' down, down, down
Workin' in a coal mine
Oops, about to slip down
Five o'clock in the mornin'
I'm already up and gone
Lord, I'm so tired
How long can this go on?
Da-da, workin' in a coal mine
Goin' down, down, down
Workin' in a coal mine
Oops, about to slip down
Workin' in a coal mine
Goin' down, down, down
Workin' in a coal mine
Oops, about to slip down
'Course I make a little money
Haulin' coal by the ton
But when Saturday rolls around
I'm too tired for havin' fun
Too tired for havin'
I'm just workin' in a coal mine
Goin' down, down, down
Workin' in a coal mine
Oops, about to slip down
Workin' in a coal mine
Goin' down, down, down
Workin' in a coal mine
Oops, about to slip down
Lord, I'm so tired
@michaelmcculloch5957
Very young Jools Holland, shows ya how long he's been working with just the best musicians of all time. If I could have lived a life instead of mine it would have been Jools Holland jamming with EVERYONE.
@radbuster4403
why hasn't this song become a meme and blown up to a billion views? why are there no viral tik tok coal mining dances? why is there no official VEVO channel for Mr Dorsey? what in the flying F is wrong with this world?
@spideraxis
Haven't heard this good oldie in a long time.
@beaubiden9293
Who’s listening in 2023?
@if6was929
Amazing that a song with such depressing lyrics can be so upbeat!
@jaxxonleighton4105
I know I am kinda off topic but do anybody know of a good place to stream new tv shows online ?
@lanechandler9469
@Jaxxon Leighton Lately I have been using Flixzone. You can find it by googling =)
@NormAppleton
That's the Blues
@blackjac5000
In the immortal words of Spider Robinson, shared pain is lessened and shared joy is increased.
@leofosse
Ya Ya is another example of Heartbreak You Can Dance To, a very popular genre in the 1960s.