Coal Tattoo

(album: Time To Think - 1963)

Traveling down that coal town road. Listening to my rubber tires whine
Goodbye to Buckeye and white Sycamore. I'm leaving you behind
I've been coal miner all of my life. Laying down track in the hole
Gotta back like an ironwood, bit 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 blueprint left by the coal. A little more and I'd been dead
Well, I love the rumble and I love the dark. I love the cool of the slade
And it's on down the new road, looking for a job. This traveling nook in my head

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 losing 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