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Coal

by Kathy Mattea

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1.
2.
I REMEMBER THE WAYS IN THE BYGONE DAYS WHEN WE WERE IN OUR PRIME HOW US AND JOHN L. GIVE THE OLD MAN HELL DOWN IN THE BLUE DIAMOND MINE WELL THE WHISTLE BLOWED AND THE ROOSTER CROWED TWO HOURS BEFORE DAYLIGHT WHEN A MAN DONE HIS BEST AND HE EARNED HIS GOOD REST MADE SEVENTEEN DOLLARS AT NIGHT [Chorus] IN THE MINES IN THE MINES IN THE BLUE DIAMOND MINES I WORKED MY LIFE AWAY IN THE MINES IN THE MINES IN THE BLUE DIAMOND MINES OH FALL ON YOUR KNEES AND PRAY. YOU OLD BLACK GOLD YOU'VE TAKEN MY LUNGS AND YOUR DUST HAS DARKENED MY HOME AND NOW THAT WE'RE OLD YOU'RE TURNING YOUR BACK WHERE ELSE CAN AN OLD MINER GO WELL IT'S ALGOMA BLOCK AND BIG LEATHERWOOD AND NOW ITS BLUE DIAMOND TOO WELL THE PITS ARE ALL CLOSED AND IT'S GET ANOTHER JOB WHAT ELSE CAN AN OLD MINER DO? [Chorus] JOHN L. HAD A DREAM BUT IT'S BROKEN IT SEEMS MINING HAS HAD IT'S DAY BUT THEY'RE STRIPPING OFF MY MOUNTAIN TOP AND THEY PAY ME EIGHT DOLLARS A DAY YOU MIGHT GET A LITTLE POKE OF WELFARE MEAL A LITTLE POKE OF WELFARE FLOUR BUT I TELL YOU RIGHT NOW YOU WON'T QUALIFY 'TILL YOU WORK FOR A QUARTER AN HOUR [Chorus]
3.
OH CAN'T YOU SEE THAT PRETTY LITTLE BIRD SINGING WITH ALL HIS HEART AND SOUL HE'S GOT A BLOOD-RED SPOT ON HIS WING AND ALL THE REST OF HIM'S BLACK AS COAL OF ALL THE COLORS I EVER DID SEE RED AND BLACK ARE THE ONES I DREAD FOR WHEN A MAN SPILLS BLOOD ON THE COAL THEY CARRY HIM DOWN FROM THE COAL MINES DEAD OH FLY AWAY YOU RED-WINGED BIRD LEAVE BEHIND THE MINER'S WIFE SHE'LL DREAM ABOUT YOU WHEN YOU'RE GONE SHE'LL DREAM ABOUT YOU ALL HER LIFE OH CAN'T YOU SEE THAT PRETTY LITTLE BIRD SINGING WITH ALL HIS HEART AND SOUL HE'S GOT A BLOOD-RED SPOT ON HIS WING AND ALL THE REST OF HIM'S BLACK AS COAL
4.
WELL THE NIGHT IS THICK AS SILENCE YOU CAN'T CUT IT WITH A KNIFE A MAN LIES IN THE HOSPITAL DRAININ' OUT HIS LIFE THE TRUCKS ARE ON THE BACK ROAD IN THE DARK THEIR HEADLIGHTS SHINE 'CAUSE THERE'S ONE MAN DEAD ON THAT HARLAN COUNTY LINE OH ANGER, LIKE POISON IS EATIN' AT YOUR SOUL YOUR THOUGHTS ARE LOUD AS GUNFIRE YOUR FACE IS HARD AS COAL BITTERNESS LIKE BUCKSHOT EXPLODES INSIDE YOUR MIND AND THERE'S ONE MAN DEAD ON THAT HARLAN COUNTY LINE OH A MINER'S LIFE IS FRAGILE IT CAN SHATTER JUST LIKE ICE BUT THOSE WHO BEAR THE STRUGGLE HAVE ALWAYS PAID THE PRICE THERE'S BLOOD UPON THE CONTRACT LIKE VINEGAR IN WINE AND THERE'S ONE MAN DEAD ON THAT HARLAN COUNTY LINE FROM THE RIVER BRIDGE AT HIGHSPLINT TO THE BROOKSIDE RAILROAD TRACK YOU CAN FEEL A LONG STRENGTH BUILDING THAT CAN NEVER BE TURNED BACK THE DEAD GO FORWARD WITH US NOT ONE IS LEFT BEHIND 'CAUSE THERE'S ONE MAN DEAD ON THAT HARLAN COUNTY LINE WELL THE NIGHT IS COLD AS IRON YOU CAN FEEL IT IN YOUR BONES IT SETTLES LIKE A SHROUD UPON THE GRAVE OF LAWRENCE JONES THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT IS WALKIN' FROM THE BATHHOUSE INTO THE MINE AND THERE'S ONE MAN DEAD ON THAT HARLAN COUNTY LINE ONE MAN DEAD ON THAT HARLAN COUNTY LINE ONE MINER DEAD ON THAT HARLAN COUNTY LINE
5.
[Chorus] OH THE GREEN ROLLING HILLS OF WEST VIRGINIA ARE THE NEAREST THING TO HEAVEN THAT I KNOW THOUGH THE TIMES ARE SAD AND DREAR AND I CANNOT LINGER HERE THEY'LL KEEP ME AND NEVER LET ME GO MY DADDY SAID DON'T EVER BE A MINER FOR A MINER'S GRAVE IS ALL YOU'LL EVER OWN THERE'S HARD TIMES EVERYWHERE I CAN'T FIND A DIME TO SPARE THESE ARE THE WORST TIMES I'VE EVER KNOWN [Chorus] SO I'LL MOVE AWAY INTO SOME CROWDED CITY IN SOME NORTHERN FACTORY TOWN YOU'LL FIND ME THERE THOUGH I'LL LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND I'LL NEVER CHANGE MY MIND THESE TROUBLED TIMES ARE MORE THAN I CAN BEAR [Chorus] SOMEDAY I'LL GO BACK TO WEST VIRGINIA TO THOSE GREEN ROLLING HILLS I LOVE SO WELL OH SOMEDAY I'LL GO HOME AND I KNOW I'LL RIGHT THE WRONG THESE HARD TIMES WILL FOLLOW ME NO MORE [Chorus] THOUGH THE TIMES ARE SAD AND DREAR AND I CANNOT LINGER HERE THEY'LL KEEP ME AND NEVER LET ME GO
6.
Coal Tattoo 03:18
TRAVELIN' ON DOWN THAT COAL TOWN ROAD LISTEN TO MY RUBBER TIRES WHINE GOODBYE TO BUCKEYE AND WHITE SYCAMORE I'M LEAVIN' YOU BEHIND OH I'VE BEEN A COAL MINER ALL MY LIFE LAYIN' DOWN TRACK IN THE HOLE GOT A BACK LIKE IRONWOOD, BENT BY THE WIND BLOOD VEINS AS BLUE AS THE COAL BLOOD VEINS AS BLUE AS THE COAL WELL, SOMEBODY SAID, "THAT'S A STRANGE TATTOO YOU HAVE ON THE SIDE OF YOUR HEAD" I SAID, THAT'S THE BLUE MARK LEFT BY THE COAL A LITTLE MORE AND I'D A BEEN DEAD OH, I LOVE THE RUMBLE AND I LOVE THE DARK LORD I LOVE THE COOL OF THE SLATE BUT IT'S GOING DOWN THAT NEW ROAD, LOOKIN' FOR A JOB TRAVELIN' AND LOOKIN' I HATE TRAVELIN' AND LOOKIN' I HATE SOME DAY WHEN I'M DEAD AND GONE TO HEAVEN THE LAND OF MY DREAMS I WON'T HAVE TO WORRY 'BOUT LOSIN' MY JOB TO BAD TIMES AND BIG MACHINES OH I GOT NO HOUSE LORD I GOT NO JOB JUST GOT A WORRIED SOUL AND A BLUE TATTOO ON THE SIDE OF MY HEAD LEFT BY THE NUMBER NINE COAL LEFT BY THE NUMBER NINE COAL
7.
8.
IN THE DEEP DARK HILLS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY THAT'S THE PLACE WHERE I TRACE MY BLOODLINE AND IT'S THERE I READ ON A HILLSIDE GRAVESTONE "YOU'LL NEVER LEAVE HARLAN ALIVE" OH MY GRANDAD'S DAD CROSSED THE CUMBERLAND MOUNTAINS WHERE HE TOOK A PRETTY GIRL TO BE HIS BRIDE SAID "WON'T YOU WALK WITH ME OUT THE MOUTH OF THIS HOLLER OR WE'LL NEVER LEAVE HARLAN ALIVE" [Chorus] WHERE THE SUN COMES UP ABOUT TEN IN THE MORNIN' AND THE SUN GOES DOWN ABOUT THREE IN THE DAY AND YOU'LL FILL YOUR CUP WITH WHATEVER BITTER BREW YOU'RE DRINKIN' AND YOU SPEND YOUR LIFE JUST THINKIN' OF HOW TO GET AWAY NO ONE EVER KNEW THERE WAS COAL IN THEM MOUNTAINS TILL A MAN FROM THE NORTHEAST ARRIVED HE WAS WAVING HUNDRED DOLLAR BILLS SAID "I'LL PAY YOU FOR YOUR MINERALS" BUT HE NEVER LEFT HARLAN ALIVE GRANDMA SOLD OUT CHEAP AND THEY MOVED OUT WEST OF PIKEVILLE TO A FARM WHERE BIG RICHLAND RIVER WINDS OH I BET THEY DANCED THEM A JIG AND THEY LAUGHED AND SANG A NEW SONG "WHO SAID WE'D NEVER LEAVE HARLAN ALIVE" BUT THE TIMES GOT HARD AND TOBACCO WASN'T SELLING AND OLD GRANDAD KNEW WHAT HE'D DO TO SURVIVE SO HE WENT AND DUG FOR HARLAN COAL SENT THE MONEY BACK TO GRANNY BUT HE NEVER LEFT HARLAN ALIVE [Chorus] THE SUN COMES UP ABOUT TEN IN THE MORNIN' AND THE SUN GOES DOWN ABOUT THREE IN THE DAY YOU FILL YOUR CUP WITH WHATEVER BITTER BREW YOU'RE DRINKIN' AND YOU SPEND YOUR LIFE DIGGIN' COAL FROM THE BOTTOM OF YOUR GRAVE
9.
COME AND LISTEN YOU FELLOWS SO YOUNG AND SO FINE AND SEEK NOT YOUR FORTUNES IN THE DARK DREARY MINES IT WILL FORM AS A HABIT AND SEEP IN YOUR SOUL TILL THE STREAM OF YOUR BLOOD RUNS AS BLACK AS THE COAL [Chorus] WHERE IT'S DARK AS A DUNGEON AND DAMP AS THE DEW WHERE DANGER IS DOUBLE AND PLEASURES ARE FEW WHERE THE RAIN NEVER FALLS AND THE SUN NEVER SHINES IT'S DARK AS A DUNGEON WAY DOWN IN THE MINES IT'S A MANY A MAN I HAVE KNOWN IN MY DAY WHO LIVED JUST TO LABOR HIS WHOLE LIFE AWAY LIKE THE FIEND WITH HIS DOPE OR A DRUNKARD HIS WINE A MAN WILL HAVE LUST FOR THE LURE OF THE MINES [Chorus] WELL THE MIDNIGHT OR THE MORNING OR THE MIDDLE OF DAY IS THE SAME TO THE MINER DIGGING AWAY WHERE THE DEMONS OF DEATH OFTEN COME BY SURPRISE ONE FALL OF THE SLATE AND YOU'RE BURIED ALIVE [Chorus] WELL I HOPE WHEN I'M GONE AND THE AGES SHALL ROLL MY BODY WILL BLACKEN AND TURN INTO COAL THEN I'LL LOOK FROM THE DOOR OF MY HEAVENLY HOME AND PITY THE MINER DIGGING MY BONES [Chorus] OH IT'S DARK AS A DUNGEON WAY DOWN IN THE MINES
10.
NOW THAT OUR MOUNTAIN IS GROWING WITH PEOPLE HUNGRY FOR WEALTH HOW COME IT'S YOU THAT'S A-GOING AND I'M LEFT ALL ALONE BY MYSELF? WE USED TO HUNT THE COOL CAVERNS DEEP IN OUR FOREST OF GREEN THEN CAME THE ROAD AND THE TAVERNS AND YOU FOUND A NEW LOVE IT SEEMS ONCE I HAD YOU AND THE WILDWOOD, NOW IT'S JUST DUSTY ROADS AND I CAN'T HELP BUT BLAMIN' YOUR GOING ON THE COMING, THE COMING OF THE ROADS LOOK HOW THEY'VE CUT ALL TO PIECES OUR ANCIENT REDWOOD AND OAK AND THE HILLSIDES ARE STAINED WITH THE GREASES THAT BURNED UP THE HEAVENS WITH SMOKE YOU USED TO CURSE THE BOLD CREWMEN WHO STRIPPED OUR EARTH OF ITS ORE NOW YOU'VE CHANGED AND YOU'VE GONE OVER TO THEM AND YOU'VE LEARNED TO LOVE WHAT YOU HATED BEFORE ONCE I THANKED GOD FOR OUR TREASURE, NOW LIKE RUST IT CORRODES AND I CAN'T HELP BUT BLAMIN' YOUR GOIN' ON THE COMING, THE COMING OF THE ROADS. ONCE I THANKED GOD FOR OUR TREASURE, NOW LIKE RUST IT CORRODES AND I CAN'T HELP BUT BLAMIN' YOUR GOIN' ON THE COMING, THE COMING OF THE ROADS. NO I CAN'T HELP BUT BLAMIN' YOUR GOIN' ON THE COMING, THE COMING OF THE ROADS
11.
HE'S HAD MORE HARD LUCK THAN MOST MEN COULD STAND THE MINES WAS HIS FIRST LOVE BUT NEVER HIS FRIEND HE'S LIVED A HARD LIFE AND HARD HE'LL DIE BLACK LUNG'S DONE GOT HIM HIS TIME IS NIGH BLACK LUNG, BLACK LUNG, OH YOU'RE JUST BIDIN' YOUR TIME SOON ALL OF THIS SUFFERIN' I'LL LEAVE BEHIND BUT I CAIN'T HELP BUT WONDER WHAT GOD HAD IN MIND TO SEND SUCH A DEVIL TO CLAIM THIS SOUL OF MINE HE WENT TO THE BOSS MAN BUT HE CLOSED THE DOOR WELL IT SEEMS YOU'RE NOT WANTED WHEN YOU'RE SICK AND YOU'RE POOR YOU AIN'T EVEN COVERED IN THEIR MEDICAL PLANS AND YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON THE FAVORS OF MAN DOWN IN THE POOR HOUSE ON STARVATION'S PLAN WHERE PRIDE IS A STRANGER AND DOOMED IS A MAN HIS SOUL FULL OF COAL DUST TILL HIS BODY'S DECAYED AND EVERYONE BUT BLACK LUNG'S DONE TURNED HIM AWAY BLACK LUNG, BLACK LUNG, OH YOUR HAND'S ICY COLD AS YOU REACH FOR MY LIFE AND YOU TORTURE MY SOUL COLD AS THAT WATER HOLE DOWN IN THAT DARK CAVE WHERE I SPENT MY LIFE'S BLOOD DIGGIN' MY OWN GRAVE DOWN AT THE GRAVEYARD THE BOSS MAN CAME WITH HIS LITTLE BUNCH OF FLOWERS, DEAR GOD WHAT A SHAME TAKE BACK THOSE FLOWERS DON'T YOU SING NO SAD SONGS THE DIE HAS BEEN CAST NOW, A GOOD MAN IS GONE HE'S HAD MORE HARD LUCK THAN MOST MEN COULD STAND THE MINES WAS HIS FIRST LOVE BUT NEVER HIS FRIEND HE'S LIVED A HARD LIFE AND HARD HE'LL DIE BLACK LUNG'S DONE GOT HIM HIS TIME IS NIGH BLACK LUNG, BLACK LUNG, OH YOU'RE JUST BIDIN' YOUR TIME SOON ALL OF THIS SUFFERIN' I'LL LEAVE BEHIND BUT I CAIN'T HELP BUT WONDER WHAT GOD HAD IN MIND TO SEND SUCH A DEVIL TO CLAIM THIS SOUL OF MINE

about

Grammy winner and environmental activist Kathy Mattea, known for such classic hits as "18 Wheels and a Dozen Roses," has dreamed quietly about one day recording an album like COAL. Raised near Charleston, West Virginia, her childhood was steeped in the Appalachian culture and her mining heritage is thick: bother her parents grew up in coal camps, her grandfathers were miners, and her mother worked for the local UMWA. But the songs on COAL are more than just mining songs. Mattea says she wanted to pay tribute to "my place and my people."

The idea for COAL began to gel during the Sago Mine Disaster, which killed twelve WV miners in 2006. "I knew the time was right," says Mattea. COAL forced her to dig really deep to find the power to let these songs come forth. Co-producer Marty Stuart understood her core relationship to these songs, that they were "in her blood." As Mattea says, "I think there's a mystery there. Somewhere in my DNA, there's my great grandmother singing, my grandma, and my people singing through me, with me." Singer, songs, producer, and pickers have come together flawlessly to form COAL, a career record for Mattea and a great gift for music lovers.

1. The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore 4:1
2. Blue Diamond Mines 4:59
3. Red-Winged Blackbird 2:53
4. Lawrence Jones 3:04
5. Green Rolling Hills 3:46
6. Coal Tattoo 3:17
7. Sally In the Garden 0:44
8. You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive 5:03
9. Dark as a Dungeon 4:34
10. Coming of the Roads 4:38
11. Black Lung/ Coal

credits

released April 1, 2008

Captain Potato Records/R.E.D. Distribution
Produced by Marty Stuart

Personnel:
Kathy Mattea (Vocals, Acoustic Guitar)
Marty Stuart (Mandolin, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Harmony Vocals- "Blue Diamond Mines")
Bill Cooley (Acoustic Guitar)
Byron House (Upright Bass, Bowed Bass)
Stuart Duncan (Fiddle, Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, Mandocello)
Eric Fritsch (B-3 Organ)
Fred Newell (Steel Guitar)
Randy Leago (Accordion, Piano)
John Catchings (Cello)
Tim O'Brien (Harmony Vocals- "Green Rolling Hills")
Mollie O'Brien (Harmony Vocals- "Green Rolling Hills")
Patty Loveless (Harmony Vocals- "Blue Diamond Mines")

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Kathy Mattea Nashville, Tennessee

Twice named Female Vocalist of the Year by the Country Music Association, Kathy Mattea is among the most successful women in the genre’s history, yet her creative spirit has led her to explore musical territory well beyond its confines. Her recent recordings have intertwined Celtic, gospel, and bluegrass influences with the folk and acoustic music that have served as her artistic anchor. ... more

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