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 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 Pikeville
 To a farm where Big Richaldn River winds
 And I bet they danced them a jig
 And they laughted 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 grandad 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 just thinkin' of how to get away
 You'll never leave Harlan alive