Harlan County

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 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 We are gathered here today to ask the Lord To take us out of Harlan County 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 You know what I did folks? I'm gonna tell ya I put the shirt on my back In 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 mounty The coldest place, Lord, I've ever seen Is the hills back in Harlan County Everybody bow their heads in prayer and ask the Lord To take us out of Harlan County Lord want you please Let your light shine Let your light shine