{"id":"1800cd39-099d-49cf-a650-f5ab2e066170","title":"Black Lung Lullaby","artist":"Alex Wilson","album":null,"year":2025,"genre":"Country/Folk/Americana","duration":"4:18","lyrics":"Verse 1\nNineteen years, but my soul’s grown old,\nDeep in the earth where the darkness holds.\nPickaxe swings ‘neath a coal-seam sky,\nDust in my chest where the dreams go dry.\nSeen boys break, seen men turn to stone,\nHeard the mountain’s groan when it claims its own.\nMy lantern’s dim, but I still see clear,\nToo much pain for a kid to bear.\n\nChorus\nSing me a black lung lullaby,\nRock me to sleep ‘neath a starless sky.\nThe coal’s my cradle, the mine’s my tomb,\nHush now, my heart, in this endless gloom.\nEvery breath’s a fight, every cough’s a call,\nDown in the dark, I’ve seen it all.\nSing me a black lung lullaby,\nTill the morning comes or I say goodbye.\n\nVerse 2\nDaddy warned me ‘bout the devil’s vein,\nSaid it’d steal your light, leave nothin’ but pain.\nBut the company’s call was a siren’s song,\nPromised us life, but they led us wrong.\nI’ve hauled the black gold till my hands bled raw,\nWatched friends fade in the dust and the straw.\nMy mirror shows a stranger’s eyes,\nA boy who’s seen too much to cry.\n\nChorus\nSing me a black lung lullaby,\nRock me to sleep ‘neath a starless sky.\nThe coal’s my cradle, the mine’s my tomb,\nHush now, my heart, in this endless gloom.\nEvery breath’s a fight, every cough’s a call,\nDown in the dark, I’ve seen it all.\nSing me a black lung lullaby,\nTill the morning comes or I say goodbye.\n\nBridge\nI dream of meadows where the air is sweet,\nWhere the river runs and the grasses meet.\nBut the dust’s my shadow, it won’t let go,\nClings to my lungs like a long-ago woe.\nI pray for the strength to climb one more day,\nTo see the sun before I fade away.\n\nVerse 3\nThe whistle blows, but it sounds like a knell,\nAnother shift in this pitch-black hell.\nI carve my name on a timber beam,\nA mark of a boy with a broken dream.\nIf I don’t make it to the light above,\nTell my sweetheart I fought for her love.\nSing me soft as the coal dust falls,\nDown where the earth don’t forgive at all.\n\nChorus\nSing me a black lung lullaby,\nRock me to sleep ‘neath a starless sky.\nThe coal’s my cradle, the mine’s my tomb,\nHush now, my heart, in this endless gloom.\nEvery breath’s a fight, every cough’s a call,\nDown in the dark, I’ve seen it all.\nSing me a black lung lullaby,\nTill the morning comes or I say goodbye.\n\nOutro\nHush now, my soul, let the silence creep,\nSing me that lullaby till I fall asleep.\nAnd maybe someday, I'll finally be free,\nFrom this black lung lullaby, haunting me.","notes":"Instrumentation: Acoustic guitar (fingerpicked or strummed with a heavy downstroke feel), banjo (slow, sparse plucking), fiddle (long, droning notes, possibly with double stops for a richer sound), upright bass (or bowed bass, for a deeper resonance), and subtle percussion (brushes on a snare drum, light shaker mimicking dust falling, or a quiet kick drum). Consider adding a harmonica for a bluesier feel during the bridge. Tempo: Very slow and deliberate. Dynamic variations should be subtle, building slightly during the bridge before returning to the quiet intensity of the verses. Vocals: Raw and emotive, with a slight tremble or crack in the voice to convey vulnerability. Harmonies: Simple, close harmonies in the chorus could add depth. Key: G Major or E Minor would be suitable. The song structure is classic country verse-chorus, but the bridge adds a moment of hope and yearning. The outro is crucial for creating a lasting feeling of melancholy. A slight reverb on the vocals and instruments will enhance the spaciousness and add to the mournful atmosphere.","description":"A haunting country ballad that delves into the somber realities of a young coal miner's life. 'Black Lung Lullaby' paints a vivid picture of the oppressive darkness and relentless struggle within the mines, using mournful acoustic guitar, a slow, steady banjo pluck, and a melancholic fiddle drone to evoke the weight of the environment. Subtle, gritty percussion mimics the rhythm of pickaxes, adding to the authenticity. The raw, emotive melody and tender yet tragic chorus carry the weariness of a soul burdened by loss, set against imagery of dust-choked tunnels and fading dreams. The song blends despair, resilience, and a quiet longing for escape, making it perfect for late-night reflection on hardship and hope.","image_url":"https://v3.fal.media/files/kangaroo/-AVXUuGDL3Qr0TLkCsGsZ.png","audio_url":"https://mxlidlmuqqztsxikjnpe.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/song-audio/1800cd39-099d-49cf-a650-f5ab2e066170.mp3","created_at":"2025-06-28T09:19:25.537+00:00"}