You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive

In the deep dark hills of Eastern Kentucky

That's the place where I traced my bloodline

And it's there I read on a hillside gravestone

"You'll never leave Harlan alive"

Oh my grandfather's Dad crossed the Cumberland Mountains

Where he took a pretty girl to be his bride

Said, "Won't you walk with me out of the mouth of this holler

Or we'll never leave Harlan alive"

Where the sun comes up about ten in the mornin'

And the sun goes down about three in the day

And you'll fill your cup with whatever bitter brew you're drinkin'

And you spend your life just thinkin' of how to get away

No one ever knew there was coal in them mountains

Till a man from the northeast arrived

Waving hundred dollar bills, said, "I'll pay you for your minerals"

But he never left Harlan alive

Grandma sold out cheap and they moved out west of Pike ville

To a farm where Big Richland River winds

And I bet they danced them a jig and they laughed and sang a new song

"Who said we'd never leave Harlan alive"

But the times got hard and tobacco wasn't selling

And old Granddad knew what he'd do to survive

He went and dug for Harlan coal and sent the money back to Grandma

But he never left Harlan alive

Where the sun comes up about ten in the mornin'

And the sun goes down about three in the day

And you'll fill your cup with whatever bitter brew you're drinkin'

And you spend your life digging coal from the bottom of your grave

You'll never leave Harlan alive