I grew up on this mountain
Came back here to dwell
Maybe have a family

Plant some corn and dig a well
I was all done with the Army
Back from Vietnam

Where I learned how to shoot a rifle
And how to set a bomb


I grew up on this mountain
It's in my very soul
So when the company moved next door

Started digging for the coal
Tearing up the mountain
With drillers and draglines

I knew then what needed
To happen to those mines


10, 9, 8
Sometimes that's just how it goes
3, 2, 1

Get out before it blows

The guard, he was sleeping

On duty thru the night
I stepped gently on the ground
And stayed well out of sight

I tied sticks to the equipment
Switched the timer on
Then I knew that in ten seconds

These dozers would be gone

I had to leave the mountain

I headed to the west
The cops were on my trail
And I figured it was best

And I figured I did my small part
To make the world free
In my humble manner

In East Tennessee