Oh say, did you see him? It was early this morning,
He passed all your houses on his way to the call.
He was tall, he was slender and his dark eyes so tender,
His occupation was mining, West Virginia his home.
It was just before 12, I was feeding the children
Ben Mosly came running to bring us the news.
Number 8 is all flooded, many men are in danger,
And we dont know their number, but we fear theyre all doomed.