(Verse I)
EM G A C
In the deep dark hills of Eastern Kentucky
EM G C
That's the place where I trace'd my blood-lines.
EM G A C
And it was there I read on a hillside gravestone
EM B EM
You'll never leave Harlan alive.
(Verse II)
EM G A C
Oh, my Grandfather Clyde crossed the Cumberland Mountains
EM G C
Where he took Madie Miller to be his bride.
EM G A C
He said "Won't you walk with me out of the mouth of this holler.
EM B EM
Or we'll never leave Harlan Alive."
(Chorus)
G C G
Where the sun comes up, about Ten in the morning
EM F C
And the sun goes down about three in the day
G C G
And you fill your cup with whatever bitter brew your drinking
EM F C EM
And you spend your life, just thinking of, how to get away.
(Verse III)
EM G A C
No one ever knew there was coal in them mountains
EM G C
Until a man from the Northeast arrived.
EM G A C
Wave'n hundred dollar bills he said I'll pay for your minerals
EM B EM
He never left Harlan alive.
(Verse IV)
EM G A C
Grandma sold out cheap and they moved out west of Pineville.
EM G C
To a farm where the big Richland River winds
EM G A C
bet they danced them a'jig, laughed and sang a little song
EM B EM
Who said we'd never leave Harlan alive.
(Verse V)
EM G A C
But the times they got hard and tobacco wasn't selling
EM G C
And Old Granddad knew what he'd do to survive.
EM G A C
He went and dug for Harlan coal and sent the money back to Grandma
EM B EM
But he never left Harlan alive.
(Chorus No. 2)
G C G
Where the sun comes up, about ten in the morning
EM F C
And the sun goes down about three in the day
G C G
And you fill your cup with whatever bitter brew your drinking
EM B EM
And you spend your life, digging coal, from the bottom of your grave.
Verse I)
EM G A C
In the deep dark hills of Eastern Kentucky
EM G C
That's the place where I trace'd my blood-lines.
EM G A C
And it was there I read on a hillside gravestone
EM B EM
You'll never leave Harlan alive.
