BANJO INTRO: Em G D C G D Em
VERSE 1:
Acapella:
In the deep dark hills of Eastern Kentucky,
That's the place where I trace my bloodline,
G/B C G A C
And it's there I read on a hillside gravestone
Em B7 Em
You'll never leave Harlan alive.
VERSE 2:
Em G D A
Oh, my grandfather's dad crossed the Cumberland Mountains
Em G C
Where he took a pretty girl to be his bride.
G/B C G A C
He said "Won't you walk with me out of the mouth of this holler
Em B7 Em
Or we'll never leave Harlan alive."
G C D 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 D G
And you fill your cup whatever bitter brew you're drinking
D/F# Em F Em
And you spend your life just thinking 'bout how to get away.
VERSE 3:
Em G D A
No one ever knew there was coal in them mountains
Em G C
Until a man from the Northeast arrived.
G/B C G A C
Waving hundred dollar bills said I'll pay for your minerals
Em B7 Em
He never left Harlan alive.
VERSE 4:
Em G D A
Grandma sold out cheap and they moved out west of Pineville
Em G C
To a farm where big Richland River winds,
G/B C G
and I'll bet they danced them a jig
A C
and they laughed and sang a new song,
Em B7 Em
"Who said we'd never leave Harlan alive?"
INSTR: Em G D A Em G C G/B C G A C Em B7 Em
VERSE 5:
Em G D A
But the times, they got hard and tobacco wasn't selling
Em G C
And old Granddad knew what he'd do to survive.
G/B C G A C
He went and dug for Harlan coal, sent the money back to Grandma
Em B7 Em
But he never left Harlan alive.
G C D 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 D G
And you fill your cup with whatever bitter brew you're drinking
D/F# Em F Em
And you spend your life digging coal from the bottom of the grave
HUMMING:
Em G D A
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Em G C
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
G/B C G A C
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Em B7 Em
Mmmmm you'll never leave harlin alive
Em G D A Em G C G/B C G A C Em B7 Em
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Em G D A
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Em G C
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
G/B C G A C
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Em B7 Em
Mmmmm you'll never leave harlin alive