Coal Tattoo

Judy CollinsJudy Collins 

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Judy Collins

Judith "Judy" Marjorie Collins (born May 1, 1939) is an American singer and songwriter, known for her eclectic tastes in the material she records (which has included folk, show tunes, pop, rock and roll and standards), and for her social activism. She is an alumna of MacMurray College, Jacksonville, Illinois. more »

Year:

1977

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Travelin' down that coaltown road,
Listen to those rubber tires whine;
Goodbye to Buckeye and White Sycamore
I'm leavin' you behind.
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. 

Somebody said "That's a strange tattoo 
You have on the side of your head."
I said "That's a blue print, left by the coal 
Just a little more and I'd be dead"
And I love the rumble and I love the dark 
I love the cool of the slate.
But it's on down the new road lookin' for a job 
It's the travelin' and lookin' I hate. 

I've stood for the union, walkin' the line,
Fought against the company;
Stood for the U. M. W. of A.
Now who's gonna stand for me?
I got no house 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. 

Someday when I'm dead and gone 
To Heaven, the land of my dreams,
I won't have to worry on losin' my job 
To bad times 'n big machines.
I ain't gonna pay my money away 
For pensions and hospital plans.
I'm gonna pick coal where the blue heavens roll 
And sing with the angel bands.

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