Merle Travis, Johnny Cash, Sparklehorse, and Tennessee Ernie Ford are celebrated artists who have each given voice to the haunting ballad Dark as a Dungeon.
Merle Travis, the song’s original writer, showed the struggles of coal miners with poignant authenticity.
Johnny Cash’s iconic live performances brought the song to a wider audience, while Tennessee Ernie Ford’s heavy, relatable vocals honored its roots.
Sparklehorse offered a modern, alternative take, ensuring that the song’s somber message continues to connect across generations and genres.
About the Song
Dark as a Dungeon is a haunting folk ballad that reflects the harsh life of coal miners. With striking imagery, it compares the mines to a prison of shadows and danger.
The song captures themes of hardship, addiction, and entrapment. Its slow, somber melody deepens the emotional weight of each word.
| Artist | Writer | Producer | Album/Session | Release Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merle Travis | Merle Travis | Lee Gillette | Folk Songs of the Hills | 1947 |
| Johnny Cash | Merle Travis | Bob Johnston | At Folsom Prison | November 25, 2003 |
| Sparklehorse | Merle Travis | Mark Linkous | Daytrotter Session | 2010 (recorded 2007) |
| Tennessee Ernie Ford | Merle Travis | Lee Gillette | The lusty Land (1956) | 1956 |
Dark As A Dungeon Lyrics by Merle Travis
Intro
It’s as a dark as a dungeon way down in the mines
I never will forget one time when I was on a little visit
Down home in Ebenezer, Kentucky
I was talking to an old man
That had known me ever since the day I was born
And an old friend of the family
He says, “Son, you don’t know how lucky you are
To have a nice job like you’ve got
And don’t have to dig out a living
From under these old hills and hollers
Like me and your Pappy used to”
When I asked him why he never had left
And tried some other kind of work
He says, “No sir, you just won’t do that
If ever you get this old coal dust in your blood
You’re just gonna be a plain old coal miner as long as you live”
He went on to say it’s a habit
Sort of like chewin’ tobacco
Verse 1
Come and listen you fellers so young and so fine
And seek not your fortune in the dark dreary mines
It will form as a habit and seep in your soul
‘Til the stream of your blood is as black as the coal
Chorus
It’s dark as a dungeon and damp as the dew
Where danger is double and pleasures are few
Where the rain never falls and the sun never shines
It’s dark as a dungeon way down in the mines
Verse 2
It’s a-many a man I’ve seen in my day
Who live just to labor his whole life away
Like a fiend with his dope and a drunkard his wine
A man will have lust for the lure of the mines
Verse 3
I hope when I’m gone and the ages shall roll
My body will blacken and turn into coal
Then I’ll look from the door of my heavenly home
And pity the miner a-diggin’ my bones
Chorus
Where it’s dark as a dungeon and damp as the dew
Where the danger is double and the pleasures are few
Where the rain never falls and the sun never shines
It’s dark as a dungeon way down in the mines
Dark As A Dungeon Lyrics by Johnny Cash
Oh come all you young fellers so young and so fine
Seek not your fortune in a dark dreary mine
It’ll form as a habit and seep in your soul
Until the stream of your blood runs as black as the coal
Where it’s dark as a dungeon, damp as the dew
Danger is double, pleasures are few
Where the rain never falls, the sun never shines
It’s dark as a dungeon way down in the mine
Well it’s many a man that I’ve seen in my day…
(Ha ha, no laughing during this song please… It’s being recorded, I know. Hell, don’t you know it’s recorded?)
…Like a friend with his dope and a drunkard with his wine
A man will have lust for the lure of the mine
And pray when I’m dead and my ages shall roll
That my body would blacken and turn into coal
Then I’ll look from the door of my heavenly home
And pity the miner digging my bones
Where it’s dark as a dungeon, damp as the dew
Danger is double, pleasures are few
Where the rain never falls, the sun never shines
It’s dark as a dungeon way down in the mine
“Thank you very much, thank you very much. I’m sorry about that little interruption there, but I just want to tell you that this show is being recorded for an album release on Columbia Records and you can’t say ‘hell’ or ‘shit’ or anything like that. How’s that grab you, Bob?”
Dark As A Dungeon Lyrics by Tennessee Ernie Ford
Come listen you fellers, so young and so fine
And seek not your fortune in the dark dreary mines
It’ll form as a habit and seep in your soul
Till the stream of your blood is as black as the coal
It’s dark as a dungeon and damp as the dew
Where the danger is double and pleasures are few
Where the rain never falls and the sun never shines
It’s dark as a dungeon way down in the mines
It’s many a man I have known in my day
Who live just to labor his young life away
Where the dеmons of death often come by surprisе
One fall of a slate and you’re buried alive
I hope when I’m gone and the ages shall roll
My body will blacken and turn into coal
Then I’ll look from the door of my heavenly home
And pity the miner digging my bones
It’s dark as a dungeon and damp as the dew
Where danger is double and pleasures are few
Where the rain never falls and the sun never shines
It’s dark as a dungeon way down in the mines
Dark As A Dungeon Lyrics by Sparklehorse
oh come all you fellas so young and so fine
seek not your fortune in a dark dreary mine
it’ll form as a habit and seep in your soul
’til the stream of your blood runs as black as the coal
where it’s dark as a dungeon, damp as the dew
danger is double, pleasures are few
where rain never falls, the sun never shines
it’s dark as a dungeon, way down in the mine
like a fiend with his dope, a drunkard with his wine
a man will have lust for the lure of the mine
and i pray when i’m dead my ages shall roll
that my body will blackenand turn into coal
and i look from the door, of my heavenly home
and pity the miner digging my bones
where it’s dark as a dungeon, damp as the dew
danger is double, pleasures are few
where the rain never falls, and the sun never shines
it’s dark as a dungeon, way down in the mine
Similar Songs Like Dark as a Dungeon
Here are some songs that echo the emotional depth, working-class struggles, and somber tone found in Dark as a Dungeon:
- Sixteen Tons: With its deep bass vocals and heavy rhythm, this coal miner’s anthem speaks of labor, debt, and hardship with haunting clarity.
- Working Man Blues: This honest portrayal of blue-collar life delivers grit and pride, much like the raw truths in Dark as a Dungeon.
- Coal Miner’s Daughter: A personal yet universal story of growing up in a miner’s family, it shares heartfelt roots and respect for a tough way of life.
- Paradise: This bittersweet song reflects on environmental loss and childhood memories tied to coal country, echoing the theme of vanishing worlds.
Similar Artists Like Merle Travis, Johnny Cash, Sparklehorse, and Tennessee Ernie Ford
If you enjoy the classic sounds of Merle Travis, Johnny Cash, Sparklehorse, and Tennessee Ernie Ford, you’ll love these iconic voices:
- Marty Robbins
Genre: Country, Western
Top Albums: Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs, More Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs - Hank Williams
Genre: Country, Honky Tonk, Folk
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Genre: Country, Outlaw Country
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Top Albums: Ernest Tubb and His Texas Troubadours, Thanks a Lot
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this Song Based on Real Experiences?
Yes – Travis grew up in Kentucky Coal Country and wrote it about miners’ harsh working conditions.
Why is it Called Dark As A Dungeon?
The title metaphor compares coal mines to medieval dungeons – dark, dangerous, and inescapable.
What does it’s Darker than Midnight Symbolize?
Represents both the literal darkness of mines and the hopelessness of miners’ lives.
Why Mention the Midnight Train?
A reference to death carrying miners away (common folk motif).
Who Made Dark As A Dungeon Famous?
Johnny Cash’s 1962 live version at folsom prison is most iconic.
