Coal Tattoo Songtext
von Judy Collins

Travelin′ down that coaltown road
Listen to my rubber tires whine
Goodbye to Buckeye and White Sycamore
I'm leavin′ you behind

Oh, I've been a coal man all my life
Layin' down track in the hole
Got a back like an ironwood bent 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 mark of the number nine coal
A little more and I'd be dead"


Oh, but I love the rumble and I love the dark
I love the cool of the slate
But it′s goin' down that new road, lookin′ for a job
This travelin' and lookin′ I hate
This travelin' and lookin' I hate

I′ve stood for the union, walked in the line
Fought against the company
I′ve stood for the U. M. W. of A.
Now who's gonna stand for me?

Well, I got no home and I got no pay
Just got a worried soul
And this blue tattoo on the side of my head
Left by the number nine coal
Left me by the number nine coal

Someday, when I die and go
To heaven, the land of my dreams
I won′t have to worry on losin' my job
To bad times and big machines


Well, I got no job and I got no pay
Just got a worried soul
And this blue tattoo on the side of my head
Left by the number nine coal
Left by the number nine coal