[Verse 1]
Em C Em
Travelin down that coal town road.
C D Em
Listenin to my rubber tires whine.
Em C Em
Goodbye to Buckeye and bright Sycamore.
G D Em
I'm leavin' you be-hind.
G D G
I've been coal miner all of my life.
G D C D
Layin' down track in the hole.
Em C Em
Gotta back like an ironwood, bent by the wind.
G D Em
Blood veins blue as the coal.
G D Em
Blood veins blue as the coal.
[Verse 2]
Em C Em
Somebody said, "That's a strange tattoo
C D Em
you have on the side of your head."
Em C Em
I said,"That's the blueprint left by the coal.
G D Em
Just a little more and I'd been dead.
G D G
Well, I love the rumble and love the dark.
G D C D
I love the cool of the slate,
Em C Em
But it's goin down that new road, lookin for a job.
G D Em
This travelin lookin I hate. (2x)
[Verse 3]
Em C Em
I stood for the union walked in the line
C D Em
fought against the company.
Em C Em
I stood for the U. M. W. of A.
G D Em
Now, whos gonna stand by me?
G D G
I've got no house and I got no pay,
G D C D
Just got a worried soul
Em C Em
And a blue tattoo on the side of my head
G D Em
Left by the number nine coal. (2x)
[Verse 4]
Em C Em
Some day when I die and go
C D Em
To heaven, the land of my dreams.
Em C Em
I wont have to worry 'bout losin my job,
C D Em
To bad times and big machines.
G D G
I'm not gonna pay my money away
G D C D
On dues or hospital plans.
Em C Em
I'm gonna pick coal while the blue heavens roll
[Outro]
G D G
I'm not gonna pay my money away
G D C D
On dues or hospital plans.
Em C Em
I'm gonna pick coal while the blue heavens roll
G D Em
And sing with the angels band.
G D Em
And sing with the angels band.