His body weakened and damaged from years in the coal mines, but forever grateful that he provided a home for his family. Many successive generations have lived, worked and died in Harlan, unable to leave town due to the poverty and limited economic opportunities in the region. And it's there I read on a hillside gravestone, you will never leave Harlan alive. I am proud to be a coal miners daughter, granddaughter, great granddaughter (and niece, better not forget my uncle Mike). Katahrins Mountain. It has special meaning to me. It has special meaning to me. And he asked Tillie Helton to be his bride. I believe it was originally written by Darrell Scott. It has special meaning to me. In the deep dark hills of Eastern Kentucky That's the place where I trace my bloodline And it's there I read on a hillside gravestone 'You'll never leave Harlan alive' Zac Brown Band Magnolia Wind. "You will never leave Harlan alive" Well my grandad's dad walked down Katahrin's Mountain And he asked Tillie Helton to be his bride He said, "Won't you walk with me out of the mouth of this holler Or we'll never leave Harlan alive" Where the sun comes up about ten in … Where the sun comes up about ten in the morning And the sun goes down about three in the day It was a realistic fear for many mining families, which often had grandfathers, fathers, brothers, siblings, cousins, etc. Oh, my granddad's dad walked down . I can’t and won’t take sides in the great debate about the coal industry in Kentucky. Said, won't you walk with me out of the mouth. It's also called Catron's Mountain not Katahrins. You will never leave Harlan alive. You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive is one of my favorite songs performed by Brad Paisley (and I am still ticked he did not perform it the last time I saw him at Rupp Arena). Although Harlan and its residents aren’t portrayed in the most flattering light, it brought attention to an area I hold dear to my heart. You will never leave Harlan alive Oh, 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 Where the sun comes up about ten in the morning And the sun goes down about three in … Zac Brown Band Mango Tree. "You will never leave Harlan alive" [Verse 2] Well my Granddaddy's dad crossed the Cumberland Mountain And he asked Nelly Hassell 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" [Chorus] Where the sun comes up about ten in the morning And the sun goes down about three in the day "You'll never leave Harlan alive" Oh my grandfather's dad crossed the Cumberland Mountains Where he took a pretty girl to be his bride Said "Won't you walk with me out the mouth of this holler Or we'll never leave Harlan alive" Where the sun comes up about ten in … It is about the long and hard road that many coal miners in Harlan, Kentucky (and across this region) face. Features Song Lyrics for Dave Alvin's You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive (Single) album. I have been back very few times since their death. My grandfather suffers from Black Lung and melanoma, a lifetime in the mines is hard on the body. Nearly 13% of the employed population in Harlan works for the Coal industry. Guy Clark Soldier's Joy, 1864. Oh, 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. Important: The song above is NOT stored on the Chordie server.The original song is hosted at www.azchords.com.Chordie works as a search engine and provides on-the-fly formatting. "You will never leave Harlan alive" [Verse 2] Well my Granddaddy's dad crossed the Cumberland Mountain And he asked Nelly Hassell 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" [Chorus] Where the sun comes up about ten in the morning And the sun goes down about three in the day "deep dark HILLS" is probably correct, but I'm 99% sure it's also a double entendre and hearing "deep dark HELLS" was something the writer had in mind as a secondary connotation. Of this holler. Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. BJWC Charitable Purchase: Poinsettias For a Purpose, Call to Action: Domestic Violence and Dating, Child Fatality, My grandparents, George Jr. and Norma Logan Peace. Don’t have an account? Oh 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 Where the sun comes up about ten in the morning And the … My grandfather left for another mining camp in Kay Jay, Kentucky, where he lives to this day. It isn’t often highly regarded a profession, but how many people sacrifice their health and safety to provide a very meager existence? Where the sun comes up about ten in … I can remember as a child traveling the winding road up KY highway 119 once a month to visit my family in Harlan. It was a long and often car sick ridden trip for a young child. I was born because my grandfather left Harlan alive. You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive. Brad Paisley – You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive. They never left Harlan alive. Why would you take away the job openings of those willing to work? I have the utmost respect for coal miners, especially those who work in some of the harshest conditions possible just to provide a basic existence for their families. My dad worked very briefly in the mines, and we lived in rural southwest Virginia while he did. They often struggle day in and day out just to “make ends meet” and they never give up. Who doesn’t love a little US Marshall Raylan Givens? It was used again in the final episode of the second season. In the Holler ( Hollow for you city folks) Those Lyrics would have been spot on. "You will never leave Harlan alive" Well my Granddaddy's dad crossed the Cumberland Mountain And he asked Nelly Hassell 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" Where the sun comes up about … You will never leave Harlan alive. The lyrics referred to when you actually saw the Sun. It isn’t be hard to be proud to be a coal miners (grand) daughter when you have a grandfather like him, and especially since he left Harlan alive! Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons! It’s super easy, we promise! 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 Sent the money back to granny but he never left Harlan alive. Mining isn’t a safe profession either. Generations of miners have toiled in the Harlan County mines. "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" was written by Darrell Scott (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROq9bjBwMXQ). Or we'll never leave Harlan alive. It is about the long and hard road that many coal miners in Harlan, Kentucky (and across this region) face. Date: October 27, 2001. I’m proud to be a coal miner’s daughter. I think the only time he left was for his tour in the Korean War. They went to work before daylight and got home after dark. Includes Album Cover, Release Year, and User Reviews. Log in now to tell us what you think this song means. My great grandparents George Sr and Lucy Peace, and I believe their parents too are buried on a hillside in rural Harlan Kentucky. It is even more heartbreaking that half of those residents live on much, much less than poverty level income. Who said we'd never leave Harlan alive? Especially in counties such as Harlan where according to the US census bureau 31% of residents live below poverty level , which is double the poverty average for the entire state. Where the sun comes up about ten in … A lack of jobs, poverty, and drugs are just a few of the socioeconomic disadvantage which trouble a beautiful mountainous landscape. MY Grandfather was a COAL MINER and so was my Father, and Yes We lived in Harlan county for some time. Darrell Scott Heavy Is the Head. Ironically, one of the things that Will did was to take photographs of people, so he’s not in many, … You will never leave Harlan alive. You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive is one of my favorite songs performed by Brad Paisley (and I am still ticked he did not perform it the last time I saw him at Rupp Arena). It is about the long and hard road that many coal miners in Harlan, Kentucky (and across this region) face. BIANCULLI: That music, heard almost every year on "Justified" is so ominous, you expect things to end poorly. Many of these miners died in these dangerous and unhealthy conditions, hence, "You will never leave Harlan alive". My grandfather isn’t a rich man by worldly means, but he worked hard, loves God, taught me to harm no other living creature (unless you plan to eat it) and is genuinely kind to all that he meets. Non-lyrical content copyright 1999-2021 SongMeanings, Javascript must be enabled for the correct page display, In the deep dark hills of eastern Kentucky, You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive song meanings. I was born because my grandfather left Harlan alive. You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive is one of my favorite songs performed by Brad Paisley (and I am still ticked he did not perform it the last time I saw him at Rupp Arena). I have heard the gossip down in the mining camps following an accident, and seen the worry consume them, hoping it wasn’t one of their own. Chordie does not index songs against artists'/composers' will. They are plagued with the same problems that much of southeastern Kentucky is ridden with. Where the sun comes up about ten in the morning. And the sun goes down about three in the day It's been used in Justified because it's set in Harlan County, Kentucky, but as far as I know it wasn't created for a movie. Mining kept my family in existence. Most of the nation became familiar with Harlan, Kentucky not from a Brad Paisley song but from the television show Justified. "You'll never leave Harlan alive" Oh, my granddads dad crossed the Cumberland Mountains Where he took a pretty girl 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?" In 2010, Brad Paisley's cover of the song "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" was the closing song played on the TV drama Justified during the final scene of the final episode of the first season. He is now a successful barber in Knox County, Kentucky. Mining still helps sustain many families across the region. Located up Highway 72 is Catron's Valley. I am proud to be a coal miners daughter, granddaughter, great granddaughter (and niece, better not forget my uncle Mike). working in the same mine. "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" as written by Darrell Scott, Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC. 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