Lyrics Judy Collins – Coal Tattoo

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

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.