You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive Lyrics - Singles - Ruby Friedman And Nick Page

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 

He said "I'll pay you for your minerals" 

He never left Harlan alive 

*instrumental interlude - Banjo solo* 

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