hills of eastern Kentucky
And it's there I read on a
You'll never leave Harlan alive
Oh, my grandfather's dead
Across the Cumberland Mountains
Where he took a pretty girl
And won't you walk with me
Out of the mouth of this harbor
You'll never leave Harlan alive
with whatever bitter brew
just thinkin' of how to get away
there was coal in the mountains
Waving hundred dollar bills
Said I'll pay for your minimums
But he never lived taller than I
Grabbed my son, our chief,
and they moved out west of Potlick
To a farm a world bigger,
a crusade we can never leave
But the times they got hard,
And old granddad knew what
When in doubt for Harlan called,
sent the money back to grandma.
But he nev er left Harlan alive.
Take your hope from the bottom of your grave
4.7
