Tom Maynard

Words and music by Tom Maynard
Tom Maynard: vocals, rhythm and nylon string lead guitars; Seth Connelly: bass; Ken Porter: percussion.

There’s a hole in the Susquehanna
And the water keeps pouring down,
Eighty-one men went into the dark
And twelve never have been found
Eighty-one men went into the dark
And twelve never have been found

The Pittston vein was tapped out
But those bastards wanted more
They saw the 'stop line' as ink on a map
Within six feet of the river they bore

There’s a hole in the Susquehanna
And the water keeps pouring in
Icy cold and black as the coal
To drown the greed of men
Icy cold and black as the coal
To drown the greed of men

With melt-off and ice the river swelled
It was more than the roof could withstand
In warning it groaned, then thundering fell
It was a race between water and man

There’s a hole in the Susquehanna
Making a thundering sound
It seems to herald the end of the world
Deafening those below ground
It seems to herald the end of the world
Deafening those below ground

On the River Slope three the flood did defy
While three others were caught unaware
The May shaft men waded water chest high
‘Til the cages carried them to the air

There’s a hole in the Susquehanna
Pulling the river through
Drowning the Knox and its neighboring mines
To remind us that payment’s due
Drowning the Knox and its neighboring mines
To remind us that payment’s due

Seven hours through darkness and wet icy cold
With time and air running thin
The last twenty-seven through the Eagle shaft crawled
All but twelve souls the race did win

There’s a hole in the Susquehanna
That nothing seems to fill
Railcars and stock, hay-bales and rock
Disappearing as though they’re nil
Railcars and stock, hay-bales and rock
Disappearing as though they’re nil

Eleven billion gallons of river’s blood
Through a whirlpool poured untamed
It took three days to temper the flood
Before men its rage overcame

There’s a hole in the Susquehanna
And the water keeps pouring down,
Eighty-one men went into the dark
And twelve never have been found
Eighty-one men went into the dark
And twelve never have been found