They went to work before daylight and got home after dark. Katahrins Mountain. It has special meaning to me. My dad worked very briefly in the mines, and we lived in rural southwest Virginia while he did. It was used again in the final episode of the second season. Features Song Lyrics for Dave Alvin's You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive (Single) album. 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. Guy Clark Soldier's Joy, 1864. You will never leave Harlan alive. 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' I’m proud to be a coal miner’s daughter. The lyrics referred to when you actually saw the Sun. 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). "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 He is now a successful barber in Knox County, Kentucky. They never left Harlan alive. It is even more heartbreaking that half of those residents live on much, much less than poverty level income. Where the sun comes up about ten in … Mining kept my family in existence. Log in now to tell us what you think this song means. Brad Paisley – You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive. A lack of jobs, poverty, and drugs are just a few of the socioeconomic disadvantage which trouble a beautiful mountainous landscape. And he asked Tillie Helton to be his bride. Ironically, one of the things that Will did was to take photographs of people, so he’s not in many, … Where the sun comes up about ten in … Who doesn’t love a little US Marshall Raylan Givens? It has special meaning to me. 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 … Where the sun comes up about ten in the morning And the sun goes down about three in the day 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. Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons! And the sun goes down about three in the day Zac Brown Band Mango Tree. Most of the nation became familiar with Harlan, Kentucky not from a Brad Paisley song but from the television show Justified. Mining isn’t a safe profession either. 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). "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. My grandfather suffers from Black Lung and melanoma, a lifetime in the mines is hard on the body. Date: October 27, 2001. "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 It is about the long and hard road that many coal miners in Harlan, Kentucky (and across this region) face. They often struggle day in and day out just to “make ends meet” and they never give up. 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. 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). I can remember as a child traveling the winding road up KY highway 119 once a month to visit my family in Harlan. Many of these miners died in these dangerous and unhealthy conditions, hence, "You will never leave Harlan alive". It's also called Catron's Mountain not Katahrins. It has special meaning to me. 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. I can’t and won’t take sides in the great debate about the coal industry in Kentucky. BIANCULLI: That music, heard almost every year on "Justified" is so ominous, you expect things to end poorly. 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. I have been back very few times since their death. 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! Who said we'd never leave Harlan alive? I was born because my grandfather left Harlan alive. Mining still helps sustain many families across the region. 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. I was born because my grandfather left Harlan alive. Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive. 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. 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. 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. It is about the long and hard road that many coal miners in Harlan, Kentucky (and across this region) face. BJWC Charitable Purchase: Poinsettias For a Purpose, Call to Action: Domestic Violence and Dating, Child Fatality, My grandparents, George Jr. and Norma Logan Peace. 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. In the Holler ( Hollow for you city folks) Those Lyrics would have been spot on. Chordie does not index songs against artists'/composers' will. It was a realistic fear for many mining families, which often had grandfathers, fathers, brothers, siblings, cousins, etc. 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. You will never leave Harlan alive. working in the same mine. Includes Album Cover, Release Year, and User Reviews. "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 … Oh, my granddad's dad walked down . Lyrics to 'You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive' by Kathy Mattea. Of this holler. It’s super easy, we promise! 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. Or we'll never leave Harlan alive. "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" was written by Darrell Scott (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROq9bjBwMXQ). Zac Brown Band Magnolia Wind. My grandfather left for another mining camp in Kay Jay, Kentucky, where he lives to this day. "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 … No, you’ll never leave Harlan alive… We don’t have any photos of William George Estes as a child, but one of his earliest known photos with Ollie is shown below. 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 … Said, won't you walk with me out of the mouth. It isn’t often highly regarded a profession, but how many people sacrifice their health and safety to provide a very meager existence? Why would you take away the job openings of those willing to work? "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?" My great grandparents George Sr and Lucy Peace, and I believe their parents too are buried on a hillside in rural Harlan Kentucky. And it's there I read on a hillside gravestone, you will never leave Harlan alive. "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 … I think the only time he left was for his tour in the Korean War. It was a long and often car sick ridden trip for a young child. I believe it was originally written by Darrell Scott. I am proud to be a coal miners daughter, granddaughter, great granddaughter (and niece, better not forget my uncle Mike). Darrell Scott Heavy Is the Head. Nearly 13% of the employed population in Harlan works for the Coal industry. They are plagued with the same problems that much of southeastern Kentucky is ridden with. 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. You will never leave Harlan alive. His body weakened and damaged from years in the coal mines, but forever grateful that he provided a home for his family. "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" as written by Darrell Scott, Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC. Where the sun comes up about ten in the morning. 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