You'll never leave Harlan Alive

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

just heard this on the radio...sung by Patti Lovelace. It sent chills down my spine & water to my eyes.



You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive Lyrics
(Darrel Scott)

In the deep dark hills of eastern Kentucky
That's the place where I traced my bloodline
And it's there I read on a hillside gravestone
"You'll never leave Harlan alive"

Oh my grandfather's dad crossed the Cumberland Mountains
Where he took a pretty girl to be his bride
Said "Won't you walk with me out the mouth of this holler
Or we'll never leave Harlan alive"

Where the sun comes up about ten in the mornin'
And the sun goes down about three in the day
And you'll fill your cup with whatever bitter brew you're drinkin'
And you spend your life just thinkin' of how to get away

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

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

But the times got hard and tobacco wasn't selling
And old grandad knew what he'd do to survive
He went and dug for Harlan coal
And sent the money back to grandma
But he never left Harlan alive

Where the sun comes up about ten in the mornin'
And the sun goes down about three in the day
And you'll fill your cup with whatever bitter brew you're drinkin'
And you spend your life just thinkin' of how to get away

You'll never leave Harlan alive

I'm not from Harlan, but I used to live in Kentucky hill country too, so this song really does take me back.

[ET Awful]

1. Shady Grove. . . .

Peaches in the summertime
Apples in the fall
If I can't get the girl I love
I don't want none at all

Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove, my darlin'
Shady Grove, my little love
I'm goin' back to Harlan

Wish I had a banjo string
Made of golden twine
Every tune I'd play on it
I wish that girl was mine

Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove, my darlin'
Shady Grove, my little love
I'm goin' back to Harlan

Wish I had a needle and thread
Fine as I could sew
I'd sew that pretty girl to my side
And down the road I'd go

Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove, my darlin'
Shady Grove, my little love
I'm goin' back to Harlan

Some come here to fiddle and dance
Some come here to tarry
Some here to fiddle and dance
I come here to marry

Every night when I go home
My wife, I try to please her
The more I try, the worse she gets
Damned if I don't leave her

Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove, my darlin'
Shady Grove, my little love
I'm goin' back to Harlan