YOU'LL NEVER LEAVE HARLAN ALIVE
In the deep dark hill 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 haller
Or we'll never leave Harlan alive
1st 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 your drinkin'
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
Said, I'll pay you 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 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 granny
But he never left Harlan alive
2nd 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 your drinkin'
And you spend your life diggin' coal
From the bottom of your grave
Written By: Darrell Scott