[Verse 1]
They should have known that trouble was brewing
They should have seen what the old men knew
They should have shut us down when the hail fell to the ground
From a cloudy sky of baby blue

[Verse 2]
Three o'clock on a cold, cold morning
The big bell wailed as if on cue
A woman's scream was heard and the news came afterwards
"It's a blow out down in Number Two!"

[Chorus]
Down in Jericho Kentucky, the mines have all caved in
Down in Jericho, broken hearts don't mend
Tear-stained eyes of kin
Never ever seen what the future might have been

[Verse 3]
The hat lamps burned with a flame like lightning
The coal dust blanketed the morning dew
The young ones looked for kin and the blind man, he looks grim
'Cause he sees there's nothing that he can do

[Verse 4]
They pumped up the mud and they chunked out water
They scratched the earth 'til it turned to sand
And a half mile down below, it's a lost cause, the miners know
Meet your maker, boys, the time's at hand
[Chorus]
Down in Jericho, Kentucky, the mines have all caved in
Down in Jericho, broken hearts don't mend
Tear-stained eyes of kin
Never ever seen what their future might have been

[Verse 5]
The fire boss's hands are clean as a whistle
The fat cat knows he's a company man
But he should have bowed down his head when they hauled out all the dead
But it's business, boys, start 'em up again

[Chorus]
Down in Jericho, Kentucky, the mines have all caved in
Down in Jericho, broken hearts don't mend
Tear-stained eyes of kin
Never ever seen what their future might have been

[Refrain]
Broken hearts don't mend
Tear-stained eyes of kin
Never ever seen what their future might have been