Verse 1: 
        Dm         F        C          G 
In the deep, dark hills of eastern Kentucky 
            Dm             F            Bb 
That's the place where I trace my bloodline 
          Bb      F         C         G 
And it's there I read on a hillside gravestone 
          Bb          A7      Dm 
You will never leave Harlan alive 
 
Verse 2: 

Well my granddad's dad walked down Katahrins Mountain 

And he asked Tillie Helton to be his bride 

Said, won't you walk with me out of the mouth of this holler 

Or we'll never leave Harlan alive 


                    F        Bb  C       F 
Where the sun comes up about ten in the morning 
             Dm             Bb    F      Bb 
And the sun goes down about three in the day 
                   F                 Bb      C          F 
And you fill your cup with whatever bitter brew you're drinkin' 
                    Dm                   Bb          Dm 
And you spend your life just thinkin' of how to get away  
 
Verse 3: 

No one ever knew there was coal in them mountains 

'Til a man from the Northeast arrived 

Waving hundred dollar bills said, I'll pay you for your minerals 

But he never left Harlan alive 
 

Bb   A7   Dm 
Verse 4: 

Granny sold out cheap and they moved out west of Pineville 

To a farm where big Richland River winds 

I bet they danced them a jig, laughed and sang a new song 

Who said we'd never leave Harlan alive 
 
Instrumental Break: (same chords as verse) 
 
Verse 5: 

But the times they got hard and tobacco wasn't selling 

And 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 
 
Repeat Chorus (last chord changes from 
Dm to F ) 

                    F        Bb  C       F 
Where the sun comes up about ten in the morning 
             Dm             Bb    F      Bb 
And the sun goes down about three in the day 
                   F                 Bb      C          F 
And you fill your cup with whatever bitter brew you're drinkin' 
                    Dm                         Bb             Dm 
And you spend your life digging coal from the bottom of your grave  
 
Last verse: 
       Dm (one strum ) 
In the deep, dark hills of eastern Kentucky 
            Dm (one strum )   
That's the place where I trace my bloodline 
          Dm (one strum ) 
And it's there I read on a hillside gravestone 
        Dm (one strum ) 
You'll never leave Harlan alive