verse 1
E
Many a man down in these here hills
B7 E
Made a living off that old black gold
E
Now there ain't nothing but welfare and pills
B7 E
And the wind never felt so cold
verse 2
E
I'll be one of the first in a long long line
B7 E
Not to go down from that old black lung
E
My death will be slower than the rest of my kind
B7 E E/F# E/G#
And my life will be sadder than the songs they all sung
A E
Old King Coal what are we gonna do
B7 E E/F# E/G#
When the mountains are gone and so are you
Bridge
A E
They come from the city to lend a hand
B7
Carrying signs saying, "Shut the mines down"
A E E/F# E/G# A
We ain't looking for pity and you don't un - der - stand
E B7 E
So go back to your city now cause this ain't your town
Instrumental A E E B7 E
verse 3
E
My Great Grandfather spent his days in a coal mine
B7 E
And his nights on the porch in a chair
E
Now he's in heaven and down here in hell
B7 A A/G# A/F# E E/F# E/G#
The rivers run muddy and the moun - tains are bare
A E
Old King Coal what are we gonna do
B7 E E/F# E/G#
When the mountains are gone and so are you
A E
Old King Coal what are we gonna do
B7 E
When the mountains are gone and so are you