In the back hills of Kentucky I was raised
In a shack on Big Bone Mountain
Born into poverty, bathed in misery
The times I went hungry you cant count em
Where the cold winds blow and the crops dont grow
A mans tired of livin when hes twenty
I was diggin hard coal at twelve years old
Way down in Harlan County
Mama tried hard, poor ol Daddy got tired
Couldnt even get a job with a shotgun
One winter I was out cuttin kindlin
The news came to Mama that mornin
They had a penny ante poker game down at the junction
Big Jack caught Daddy cheatin and he shot him
Over fifteen cents
To buy a loaf of bread with
We are gathered here today to ask the Lord
To take us out of Harlan County
Mama married Willie
He stood five-six
His brother was a shovel and a coal mine pick
With the heart of a lion and the soul of a man
He worked twelve hours a day
Seven days ever week
Forty days ever month
Diggin for a bone in a hillside
Where a little childs dream is a new pair of shoes
To keep its little feet warm in the winter
But dreams they dont ever come true, I know
Way down in Harlan County
You know what I did folks?
Im gonna tell ya
I put the shirt on my back
In a brown paper sack
A big piece of my Mamas cold cornbread
I hit the road Jack
Forgot to look back
I walked all the way down to somewhere
Ive been all over this whole wide world
Ive slept on a northwest mounty
The coldest place, Lord, Ive ever seen
Is the hills back in Harlan County
Everybody bow their heads in prayer and ask the Lord
To take us out of Harlan County
Lord want you please
Let your light shine
Let your light shine