In the deep dark hills of eastern Kentucky
That's the place where I trace my bloodline
And it's there I read on a hillside gravestone

You will never leave Harlan alive

Oh, my granddad's dad walked down

Katahrins Mountain
And he asked Tillie Helton 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 morning
And the sun goes down about three in the day
And you fill your cup with whatever bitter brew you're drinking

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

No one ever knew there was coal in them mountains

'Til a man from the Northeast arrived
Waving hundred dollar bills he said I'll pay ya for your minerals
But he never left Harlan alive


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 we'd never leave Harlan alive


But the times got hard and tobacco wasn't selling
And ole granddad knew what he'd do to survive

He went and dug for Harlan coal
And sent the money back to granny
But he never left Harlan alive


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


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 you're drinking

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

In the deep dark hills of eastern Kentucky

That's the place where I trace my bloodline
And it's there I read on a hillside gravestone
You will never leave Harlan alive