When I was a curly headed baby
My daddy sat me down on his knee
He said, son, go to school and get your letters
Don´t you be a dusty coal miner, boy, like me

I was born and raised at the mouth of hazard hollow
The coal cars rolled and rumbled past my door
But now they stand in a rusty row, all empty
Because the L & N don´t stop here anymore

I used to think my daddy was a black man
With script enough to buy the company store
But now he goes to town with empty pockets
And his face is white as a February snow

I was born and raised at the mouth of hazard hollow
The coal cars rolled and rumbled past my door
But now they stand in a rusty row, all empty
Because the L & N don´t stop here anymore

I never thought I´d learn to love the coal dust

I never thought I´d pray to hear that whistle roar
Oh, god, I wish the grass would turn to money
And those green backs would fill my pockets once more

I was born and raised at the mouth of hazard hollow
The coal cars rolled and rumbled past my door
But now they stand in a rusty row, all empty
Because the L & N don´t stop here anymore

Last night I dreamed I went down to the office
To get my pay like a had done before
But the old kudzu vines were covering the door
And there were leaves and grass growing right up through the floor

I was born and raised at the mouth of hazard hollow
The coal cars rolled and rumbled past my door
But now they stand in a rusty row, all empty
Because the L & N don´t stop here anymore