“Old King Coal” Sheet Music (pdf).
“Old King Coal” Karaoke (midi with lyrics).
Performer: Alistair Hulett.
Lyrics: John Kirkpatrick.
Tune: John Kirkpatrick.
Under the ground lay Old King Coal, and he lay most peacefully.
He ruled in might and splendor; there was none so proud as he.
But men came along to tunnel him out and rip him from his throne.
They tore him down to steal his crown for the pow’r in the old black stone.
There’s fire in the heart of Old King Coal.
There’s the strength of centuries in his soul.
There’s a fire that grows where his black blood flows.
So, here’s to Old King Coal.
They scratched him and hacked him and harried him out; they ripped him from his bed.
They busted his bones asunder; they swore they’d see him dead.
Then, they carried him out to the sun’s bright light, which blinded him in the eye.
And the blood did drain from ev’ry vein until they’d drained him dry.
There’s fire in the heart of Old King Coal.
There’s the strength of centuries in his soul.
There’s a fire that grows where his black blood flows.
So, here’s to Old King Coal.
They cracked his bones on the grinding stones; how gleefully, they did grind.
Oh, how they pulverized him, turned him to dust so fine.
Then, they sprayed him into the furnace fire and burned him in the air.
With a mighty blast, they burned him fast as he prayed his final prayer.
There’s fire in the heart of Old King Coal.
There’s the strength of centuries in his soul.
There’s a fire that grows where his black blood flows.
So, here’s to Old King Coal.
And his soul cried out with a final shout as he reached his final hour.
And his heart, it burst with singing; so mighty was the pow’r.
And he sang the water into steam, and the steam made the wheels spin ‘round.
And the song went on so pure and strong ’til the wires hummed with its sound.
There’s fire in the heart of Old King Coal.
There’s the strength of centuries in his soul.
There’s a fire that grows where his black blood flows.
So, here’s to Old King Coal.
Out of the darkness, there comes light, and out of the earth comes fire.
Out of the cold comes comfort as his bones go blazing higher.
And his soul flies up through the air we breathe and down to the earth we tread
That humankind may not forget that Old King Coal is dead.
There’s fire in the heart of Old King Coal.
There’s the strength of centuries in his soul.
There’s a fire that grows where his black blood flows.
So, here’s to Old King Coal.