Kingston Trio - Coal Tattoo lyrics

Billy Edd Wheeler

Travelin' down that coal town road. Listenin' to my rubber tires whine.

Goodbye to Buckeye and white Sycamore. I'm leavin' you behind.

I've been coal miner all of my life. Layin' down *tracks* in the hole.

*Back like an ironwood, bent by the wind*. Blood veins blue as the coal. Blood veins blue as the coal.

Somebody said, "That's a strange tattoo you have on the side of your head."

*I said, "That's the mark of the number nine coal. A little bit more and I'd be dead"*

Well, I love the rumble and I love the dark. I love the cool of the slate,

*And I'm goin' down this road, lookin' for a job. It's travlin' and lookin' I hate*

I stood for the union and walked in the line and fought against the company.

I stood for the U. M. W. of A. Now, who's gonna stand for me?

I've got no house and I got no job, just got a worried soul

And a blue tattoo on the side of my head left by the number nine coal. Left by the number nine coal.

Some day when I'm dead and gone to heaven, the land of my dreams.

I won't have to worry on losin' my job, on bad times and big machines.

I ain't gonna pay my money away on dues or hospital plans.

I'm gonna pick coal where the blue heavens roll and sing with the angel band.

Thanks to Alexx Westbrook for these lyrics