My daddy was covered with coal dust
every night when he walked in
he'd shower off and eat the evening slop 
and then he'd crawl back in his gin.

He used to be a writer just like me 
until the day I came along
when he had to go to work down in the hole 
and he never wrote another song

CHORUS
This one goes out to all the fathers 
who never realized their dreams
they gave them up for Sons and daughters
to allow them to achieve

I know he tried, but he was just too tired 
to give a lot of time to me.
he loved his son, but with coal dust in his lungs 
he was half the man he used to be

Black Lung and gin, they got the best of him 
it's time to lay him down to rest
I hope he knows somewhere in his soul 
that I know my daddy did his best

This one goes out to all the fathers 
who never realized their dreams 
they gave them up for Sons and daughters 
to allow them to achieve