Harlan County

[Verse 1]
In the back hills of Kentucky I was raised
In a shack on Big Bone Mountain
Born into poverty, bathed in misery
The times I went hungry, you can’t count ‘em
Where the cold winds blow and the crops don’t grow
A man’s tired of livin’ when he’s twenty
I was diggin’ hard coal at twelve years old
Way down in Harlan County

[Verse 2]
Mama tried hard, poor ol’ Daddy got tired
Couldn’t even get a job with a shotgun
One winter I was out cuttin’ kindlin’
The news came to Mama that mornin’
They had a penny ante poker game down at the junction
Big Jack caught Daddy cheatin’ and he shot him
Over fifteen cents to buy a loaf of bread with
(Swing low sweet chariot)
We are gathered here today to ask the Lord
To take us out of Harlan County

[Verse 3]
Mama married Willie, he stood five-six
His brother was a shovel and a coal mine pick
With the heart of a lion and the soul of a man
He worked twelve hours a day, seven days ever’ week
Forty days ever’ month diggin’ for a bone in a hillside
Where a little child’s dream is a new pair of shoes
To keep its little feet warm in the winter
But dreams they don’t ever come true, I know
Way down in Harlan County

[Verse 4]
You know what I did folks? I'm gonna tell ya
I put a shirt on my back and a brown paper sack
A big piece of my Mama’s cold cornbread
I hit the road, Jack, forgot to look back
I walked all the way down to somewhere
I’ve been all over this whole wide world
I’ve slept on a northwest mountain
The coldest place, Lord, I’ve ever seen
Is the hills back in Harlan County

[Outro]
(Swing low sweet chariot)
Everybody bow their heads in prayer - ask the Lord
To take us out of Harlan County
Lord would you please
Let your light shine
Let your light shi-hi-hi-hi-hi-hi-hi-hine
Let your light, shine on