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You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive Lyrics
In the deep dark hells of eastern Kentucky
That's the place where I traced my bloodline
And it's there I read on a hillside gravestone
You will never leave Harlan alive
Well my granddad's dad walked down Katahrins Mountain
And he asked Tillie Hilton to be his bride
He Said won't you walk with me out of the mouth of this holler
Or we'll never leave Harlan alive
Where the sun comes up about ten in the morning
And the sun goes down about three in the day
And you fill your cup with whatever bitter brew you're drinking
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 for your minerals
But he never left Harlan alive
Well Granny sold out cheap and they moved out west to Pineland
To a farm where big Richmond River winds
I bet they danced them a jig and laughed and sang a new song
Who said we'd never leave Harlan alive
[ fiddle ]
But the times they got hard and tobacco wasn't selling
Ole granddad knew what he'd do to survive
He went and dug for Harlan coal and sent the money back to granny
But he never left Harlan alive
And the sun comes up about ten in the morning...
And the sun comes up about ten in the morning
And the sun goes down about three in the day
And you fill your cup with whatever bitter brew you're drinking
And you spend your life digging coal from the bottom of your grave
In the deep dark hells of eastern Kentucky...
That's the place where I traced my bloodline
And it's there I read on a hillside gravestone
You will never leave Harlan alive
And he asked Tillie Hilton to be his bride
He Said won't you walk with me out of the mouth of this holler
Or we'll never leave Harlan alive
And the sun goes down about three in the day
And you fill your cup with whatever bitter brew you're drinking
And you spend your life just thinkin' of how to get away
Till a man from the Northeast arrived
Waving hundred dollar bills he said I'll pay for your minerals
But he never left Harlan alive
To a farm where big Richmond River winds
I bet they danced them a jig and laughed and sang a new song
Who said we'd never leave Harlan alive
[ fiddle ]
But the times they got hard and tobacco wasn't selling
Ole granddad knew what he'd do to survive
He went and dug for Harlan coal and sent the money back to granny
But he never left Harlan alive
And the sun goes down about three in the day
And you fill your cup with whatever bitter brew you're drinking
And you spend your life digging coal from the bottom of your grave
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First of all, it is not "In the deep dark hells of eastern Kentucky", but rather HILLS. Also, the song refers to the Richland River, not Richmond River.
Anyone who is familiar with Appalachia knows that where Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia meet is Coal Country, USA. Harlan, Kentucky is the town that coal built. Located on the Cumberland and Martin's Fork Cumberland Rivers between two mountains, the sun really does come up about ten and goes down about three due to the profile of the mountains. Generations of miners have toiled in the Harlan County mines. Many successive generations have lived, worked and died in Harlan, unable to leave town due to the poverty and limited economic opportunities in the region. Many of these miners died in these dangerous and unhealthy conditions, hence, "You will never leave Harlan alive". Quite a sombering song, originally performed by Patty Loveless.
It's also called Catron's Mountain not Katahrins. Located up Highway 72 is Catron's Valley.
It's also called Catron's Mountain not Katahrins. Located up Highway 72 is Catron's Valley.
"deep dark HILLS" is probably correct, but I'm 99% sure it's also a double entendre and hearing "deep dark HELLS" was something the writer had in mind as a secondary connotation.
"deep dark HILLS" is probably correct, but I'm 99% sure it's also a double entendre and hearing "deep dark HELLS" was something the writer had in mind as a secondary connotation.
@gmaniac6899 Actually the original creator/performer of the song is Darrell Scott
@gmaniac6899 Actually the original creator/performer of the song is Darrell Scott
i guess my question is, was this song from a movie or something or is this just a song?
I believe it was originally written by Darrell Scott.
I believe it was originally written by Darrell Scott.
It's been used in Justified because it's set in Harlan County, Kentucky, but as far as I know it wasn't created for a movie.
It's been used in Justified because it's set in Harlan County, Kentucky, but as far as I know it wasn't created for a movie.
My fiance is from the next town over from Harlan, KY!
My fiance is from the next town over from Harlan, KY!
Cumberland mountains. Not kataran.