Quecreek Flood Anaïs Mitchell

It was late in July at the Quecreek coal mine
When the water came rolling down as black as bad blood
To where nine good men stood shuddering, shivering
And shouting for deliverance, sure they would drown

And safe above ground, the boss paced around
Surveying the scene of the flood after chasing away the UMWA
So inspections were cheap
He didn't lose sleep, he just stood in the sun
What could we have done?
He said this was an act of God

And the President came from his party campaign
To shake every hero's right hand
After slashing the funds for the miners' black lungs
And the regulations, God bless our nation
He said, "united we stand"

And the anchor girl cried when the miners survived
She lauded her God in his glory
And the tired camera man packed up the van
And they wore the same frown as they drove out of town
Where they found the next sellable story

And we who were raised by invisible hands
And we who were raised on government lies
The prodigal children of the promised land
Who's gonna open our eyes