Nine Pound Hammer

[Prequel]
Roll on buddy, don't you roll so slow
How can I roll when the wheels won't go?

[Spoken Intro]
Up in East Kentucky around Harlan and Perry County, the coal miner sings a little song called "The Nine Pound Hammer". Now just picture yourself a-drivin' four inch spikes in hard black oak track ties about five miles back under the mountain. Where the top's so low in the mines that you can't straighten up to rest your back just for a minute. And lots of time, the air gets so foul back there that you just can't get a good deep breath. Ahhh...

[Verse 1]
This nine pound hammer is a little too heavy
For my size, honey, for my size
I'm goin' on the mountain, gonna see my baby
But I ain't comin' back, oh well, I ain't comin' back

[Chorus]
Roll on buddy, don't you roll so slow
How can I roll when the wheels won't go?
Roll on buddy, pull a load of coal
How can I pull when the wheels won't roll?

[Instrumental Verse]

[Verse 2]
It's a long way to Harlan, it's a long way to Hazard
Just to get a little brew, just to get a little brew
When I'm long gone you can make my tombstone
Outta number nine coal, outta number nine coal

[Chorus]
Roll on buddy, don't you roll so slow
How can I roll when the wheels won't go?
Roll on buddy, pull a load of coal
How can I pull when wheels won't roll?

[Outro]
Roll on buddy, don't you roll so slow
How can I roll when the wheel won't go?