Verse 1:
Dm F C G
In the deep, dark hills of eastern Kentucky
Dm F Bb
That's the place where I trace my bloodline
Bb F C G
And it's there I read on a hillside gravestone
Bb A7 Dm
You will never leave Harlan alive
Verse 2:
Well 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 holler
Or we'll never leave Harlan alive
F Bb C F
Where the sun comes up about ten in the morning
Dm Bb F Bb
And the sun goes down about three in the day
F Bb C F
And you fill your cup with whatever bitter brew you're drinkin'
Dm Bb Dm
And you spend your life just thinkin' of how to get away
Verse 3:
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
Bb A7 Dm
Verse 4:
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
Instrumental Break: (same chords as verse)
Verse 5:
But the times they got hard and tobacco wasn't selling
And ole 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
Repeat Chorus (last chord changes from Dm to F)
F Bb C F
Where the sun comes up about ten in the morning
Dm Bb F Bb
And the sun goes down about three in the day
F Bb C F
And you fill your cup with whatever bitter brew you're drinkin'
Dm Bb Dm
And you spend your life digging coal from the bottom of your grave
Last verse:
Dm (one strum)
In the deep, dark hills of eastern Kentucky
Dm (one strum)
That's the place where I trace my bloodline
Dm (one strum)
And it's there I read on a hillside gravestone
Dm (one strum)
You'll never leave Harlan alive