You ll Never Leave Harlan Alive
[Verse 1]
In the deep, dark hills of eastern Kentucky
That s the place where I trace my bloodline
And itâs there I read on a hillside gravestone
You will never leave Harlan alive
[Verse 2]
Well my granddadâs dad walked down Katahrins Mountain
And he asked Tillie Helton to be his bride
Said, wonât you walk with me out of the mouth of this holler
Or weâll never leave Harlan alive
[Chorus]
Where the sun comes up about ten in the morning
And the sun goes down about three in the day
And you fill your cup with whatever bitter brew youâre drinkinâ
And you spend your life just thinkinâ of how to get away
[Verse 3]
No one ever knew there was coal in them mountains
âTil a man from the Northeast arrived
Waving hundred dollar bills said, Iâll pay you for your minerals
But he never left Harlan alive
[Verse 4]
Granny sold out cheap and they moved out west of Pineville
To a farm where big Richland River winds
I bet they danced them a jig, laughed and sang a new song
Who said weâd never leave Harlan alive
[Instrumental Break]
[Verse 5]
But the times they got hard and tobacco wasnât selling
And ole granddad knew what heâd do to survive
He went and dug for Harlan coal and sent the money back to granny
But he never left Harlan alive
[Chorus]
Where the sun comes up about ten in the morning
And the sun goes down about three in the day
And you fill your cup with whatever bitter brew youâre drinkinâ
And you spend your life just thinkinâ of how to get away
[Last Chorus]
Where the sun comes up about ten in the morning
And the sun goes down about three in the day
And you fill your cup with whatever bitter brew youâre drinkinâ
And you spend your life digging coal from the bottom of your grave
[Last verse]
(one strum)
In the deep, dark hills of eastern Kentucky
(one strum)
That s the place where I trace my bloodline
(one strum)
And itâs there I read on a hillside gravestone
(one strum)
You ll never leave Harlan alive