A Hero In Harlan
Recorded by Tom T. Hall
Album: Tom T. Hall Sings Miss Dixie & Tom T.
Capo on 2, in 68 time
[Intro]
G
G C G
A grey silver casket rolls off of the air- plane
D G
The Stars and the Stripes are draped over the lid
G C G
In- side is the body of our little brother
G D G
They say he's a soldier, but he's just a kid
G C G
Well, we're here to take him to Harlan Ken- tucky
G D G
Where he will be buried in our family plot
G C G
We think of that day when he went in the army
G D G
Ex- pecting a much better job than he got
[Chorus]
C G D G
He'll be a hero in Harlan like all the young soldiers be- fore
C G Em G D G
He's not the first and he won't be the last to lay down his life in a war
G C G
Some- where in the records, he'll just be a number
G D G
An- other young man lyin' under a sheet
G C G
We're takin' him home to rest high on a hillside
G D G
And he'll be a hero in Harlan this week
[Chorus]
C G D G
He'll be a hero in Harlan like all the young soldiers be- fore
C G Em G D G
He's not the first and he won't be the last to lay down his life in a war
[Instrumental]
A A A
A D A
Now world is a big place and maybe needs saving
A E A
But what can a country boy do with a gun
A D A
He used to win teddy bears down at the fair- grounds
A E A
When livin' was easy and shootin' was fun
A D A
Well, they fold up the Stars and the Stripes for his mother
A E A
And gently they trade her the flag for her son
A D A
Well, a harder exchange never took place in Harlan
A E A
But it's not the first time, it's ever been done
[Chorus]
D A E A
He'll be a hero in Harlan like all the young soldiers be- fore
D A F#m A E A
He's not the first and he won't be the last to lay down his life in a war
[Outro]
D A
And he'll be a hero in Harlan