COAL TATTOO
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This song, about an experienced coal miner looking for work,
was written by Billy Edd Wheeler in 1963 and has become quite
a classic. Not all the words are recalled by the singers in 
this recording.

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Travelin' on down that coal town road
Lord listen to my rubber tires whine.
Goodbye to the buckeye and white sycamore,
I'm leavin' you behind.

I've been a coal miner all of my life, 
layin' down track in a hole
Got a back like an ironwood bent by the wind
Blood veins as blue as the coal, 
blood veins as blue as the coal.

(this is where recording begins)

Somebody said that's a strange tattoo 
you've got on the side of your head.
I said that's a blue print left by the coal, 
just a little more and I'd have been dead.
But I like the rumble and I like the dark, 
I like the cool of the slate
But its travelin' down this long road lookin' for a job, 
this travelin' and lookin' I hate.
This travelin' and looking I hate.

I've stood for the union I've walked in the line,
 I've fought against the company.
I've stood for the UMW of A, 
now who's gonna stand for me?
For I've got no job and I've got no pay, 
just got a worryin' soul.
And this blue tattoo on the side of my head, 
left by the number nine coal.
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 'bout losin' my job 
to hard times and big machines.
I won't have to pay my money away 
to dues and to hospital plans.
I'm gonna pick coal while the blue heaven's roll. 
Sing with the angel band, 
Sing with the angel band.