Lyrics Sturgill Simpson

Sturgill Simpson

Old King Coal

Many a man down in these here hills

made a living off that old black gold

Now there ain't nothing but welfare and pills

and the wind never felt so cold

I'll be one of the first in a long long line

not to go down from that old black lung

My death will be slower than the rest of my kind

And my life will be sadder than the songs they all sung

Old King Coal what are we gonna do

when the mountains are gone and so are you

They come from the city to lend a hand

carrying signs saying, Shut the mines down

We ain't looking for pity and you don't understand

So go back to your city now cause this ain't your town

My Great Grandfather spent his days in a coal mine

and his nights on the porch in a chair

Now he's in heaven and down here in hell

the rivers run muddy and the mountains are bare