Kathy Mattea

Hello, My Name Is Coal

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Hello, My Name Is Coal Lyrics

I'm from West (by God) Virginia
And the high Kentucky hills
I'm dirty but I'm honest
I pay a poor man's bills
I’m prosperity and poverty
I'm a scoundrel and a saint
I'm loved, reviled, misunderstood
I'm hope in a hopeless place

Hello, my name is Coal
And around here I'm the king
Some say I'm a savior
Some say death is what I bring
I've broke miner's backs & hearts
And I've wrestled for their souls
Let me introduce myself
Hello, my name is Coal

Some men call me "black gold"
You mighta heard o’ me
My body is the mountain
My breath is kerosene
You might think I’m outta date
But if I'm outta style and old
Why do men still dig me
All around the globe?

Hello, my name is Coal
And around here I'm the queen
Some say I'm cheap and easy
Ah but they still bow to me
Be careful, I'll break up your home
And I’ll steal away your soul
It's dangerous to lust for me
Hello, my name is Coal

They curse me now for what I am
But not that long ago
They sang my praises everywhere
Hello, my name is Coal

Submitted by

mike On Sep 13, 2012

Where Have You Been

Walking Away A Winner

A Far Cry

Gone, Gonna Rise Again

The Wood Thrush\'s Song

I'm from West (by God) Virginia
And the high Kentucky hills
I'm dirty but I'm honest
I pay a poor man's bills
I’m prosperity and poverty 
I'm a scoundrel and a saint
I'm loved, reviled, misunderstood
I'm hope in a hopeless place

Hello, my name is Coal
And around here I'm the king
Some say I'm a savior 
Some say death is what I bring
I've broke miner's backs & hearts
And I've wrestled for their souls
Let me introduce myself
Hello, my name is Coal

Some men call me "black gold"
You mighta heard o’ me 
My body is the mountain 
My breath is kerosene
You might think I’m outta date
But if I'm outta style and old
Why do men still dig me 
All around the globe?

Hello, my name is Coal 
And around here I'm the queen
Some say I'm cheap and easy 
Ah but they still bow to me
Be careful, I'll break up your home
And I’ll steal away your soul
It's dangerous to lust for me 
Hello, my name is Coal

They curse me now for what I am
But not that long ago
They sang my praises everywhere
Hello, my name is Coal

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forestchild

2014-09-17 12:05:10

mike

Submitter

2012-09-13 04:38:07

1 Meaning

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by forestchild

11y ago

This song is from the point of view of coal itself, and points out all the contradictory ways that human beings have viewed and treated coal since we started digging it up and using it, and the toll it has taken on our lives. It's strongly implied that the coal is controlling us, rather than the other way around. Coal is presented as a savior, a temptress, a tyrant, hope, and despair, all rolled into one.

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