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Version 1 Version 3
* = one strum
[Intro]
Dm
[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
[Link] (enter electric guitar)
Dm
[Verse 2]
Dm F C G
Well my granddad’s dad walked down Katahrins Mountain
Dm F Bb
And he asked Tillie Helton to be his bride
Am Bb C G
Said, won’t you walk with me out of the mouth of this holler
Bb A7 Dm
Or we’ll never leave Harlan alive
[Chorus]
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]
Dm F C G
No one ever knew there was coal in them mountains
Dm F Bb
‘Til a man from the Northeast arrived
Bb F C G
Waving them hundred dollar bills said, hey I’ll pay you for your minerals
Bb A7 Dm
But he never left Harlan alive
Bb A7 Dm
[Verse 4]
Dm F C G
Granny sold out cheap and they moved out west of Pineville
Dm F Bb
To a farm where big Richland River winds
Bb F C G
I bet they danced them a jig, laughed and sang a new song
Bb A7 Dm
Who said we’d never leave Harlan alive
[Instrumental Break]
Dm F C G
Dm F Bb Bb
F C G Bb
Bb A7 Dm Dm
[Link]
Dm
[Verse 5]
Dm F C G
But the times they got hard and tobacco wasn’t selling
Dm F Bb
And ole granddad knew what he’d do to survive
Bb F C G
He went and dug for Harlan coal and sent the money back to granny
Bb A7 Dm
But he never left Harlan alive
[Chorus]
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 F
And you spend your life just thinkin’ of how to get away
[Last Chorus]
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*
In the deep, dark hills of eastern Kentucky
Dm*
That's the place where I trace my bloodline
Dm*
And it’s there I read on a hillside gravestone
Dm*
You'll never leave Harlan alive