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

Well my granddad's dad walked down Katahrin's mountains
And he asked Tillie Helton to be his bride
Said won't you walk with me out of the mouth of this holler
We'll never leave Harlan alive

No one ever knew there was coal in them mountains
'Til a man from the Northeast arrived
Waving hundred dollar bills he said I'll pay you for your minerals
But he never left Harlan alive

Granny sold out cheap and they moved out west of Pineville
To a farm where big Richland River winds
I bet they danced them a jig laughed and sang a new song
Who said we'd never leave Harlan alive

But the times they got hard and tobacco wasn't selling
And ole granddad knew what he'd do to survive
Well he went and dug for Harlan coal and sent the money back to granny
But he never left Harlan alive