Verse 1: n        [Dm         F        C          G] nIn the deep, dark hills of eastern Kentucky n            [Dm             F            Bb] nThat's the place where I trace my bloodline n          [Bb      F         C         G] nAnd it's there I read on a hillside gravestone n          [Bb          A7      Dm] nYou will never leave Harlan alive n n nVerse 2: nWell my granddad's dad walked down Katahrins Mountain nAnd he asked Tillie Helton to be his bride nSaid, won't you walk with me out of the mouth of this holler nOr we'll never leave Harlan alive nn

			[F Bb C F] nWhere the sun comes up about ten in the morning n [Dm Bb F Bb] nAnd the sun goes down about three in the day n [F Bb C F] nAnd you fill your cup with whatever bitter brew you're drinkin' n [Dm Bb Dm] nAnd you spend your life just thinkin' of how to get away

 n n nVerse 3: nNo one ever knew there was coal in them mountains n'Til a man from the Northeast arrived nWaving hundred dollar bills said, I'll pay you for your minerals nBut he never left Harlan alive n n[Bb   A7   Dm] n nVerse 4: nGranny sold out cheap and they moved out west of Pineville nTo a farm where big Richland River winds nI bet they danced them a jig, laughed and sang a new song nWho said we'd never leave Harlan alive n nInstrumental Break: (same chords as verse) n nVerse 5: nBut the times they got hard and tobacco wasn't selling nAnd ole granddad knew what he'd do to survive nHe went and dug for Harlan coal and sent the money back to granny nBut he never left Harlan alive n n nRepeat Chorus (last chord changes from [Dm] to [F]) nn

			[F Bb C F] nWhere the sun comes up about ten in the morning n [Dm Bb F Bb] nAnd the sun goes down about three in the day n [F Bb C F] nAnd you fill your cup with whatever bitter brew you're drinkin' n [Dm] [Bb Dm] nAnd you spend your life digging coal from the bottom of your grave

 n n nLast verse: n       [Dm] (one strum) nIn the deep, dark hills of eastern Kentucky n            [Dm] (one strum)   nThat's the place where I trace my bloodline n          [Dm] (one strum) nAnd it's there I read on a hillside gravestone n        [Dm] (one strum) nYou'll never leave Harlan alive