Coal Tattoo ---  Billy Edd Wheeler

[Em]Travelin’ down that [D]coal town [Em]road,
[C]Listen to my [D]rubber tires [Em]whine.
It’s goodbye to Buckeye and [D]White Syca-[Em]more,
I’m [C]leavin’ [D]you be-[Em]hind.
[G]I’ve been a coal miner [D]all of my [G]life;
Laid down [D]track in that [C]ho-[D]ole.
Got a [G]back like an ironwood [C]bent by the [G]wind
And blood veins as [D]blue as the [Em]coal. Yeah
[G]Blood veins as [D]blue as the [Em]coal.

[Em]Somebody said: ”That’s a [D]strange tat-[Em]too
You [C]have on the [D]side of your [Em]head.”
I said: “That’s the blueprint [D]left by the [Em]coal;
A [C]little more and [D]I’d be [Em]dead.”
Oh but [G]I love the rumble and [D]I love the [G]dark;
I love the [D]cool of the [C]sla-[D]ate.
It’s [G]trav’lin’ down a new road [C]lookin’ for a [G]job;
It’s trav’lin’ and [D]lookin’ I [Em]hate.
It’s [G]trav’lin’ and [D]lookin’ I [Em]hate.

I’ve [Em]stood for the union and I’ve [D]walked in that [Em]line.
I’ve [C]fought against the [D]big compa-[Em]ny.
I’ve stood for the U M [D]W of [Em]A;
Now [C]who’s gonna [D]stand for [Em]me?
I [G]ain’t got no home and I [D]ain’t got no [G]pay;
Just got a [D]worried [C]so-[D]oul.
And this [G]blue tattoo on the [C]side of my [G]head, that was
Left by the [D]number nine [Em]coal.
[G]Left by the [D]number nine [Em]coal.

[Em]Someday when I’m [D]dead and [Em]gone
To [C]Heaven, the [D]land of my [Em]dreams,
I won’t have to worry ‘bout [D]losin’ my [Em]job
To [C]bad times or [D]big ma-[Em]chines.
I [G]won’t have to throw my [D]money a-[G]way
On dues or [D]hospital [C]pla-[D]ans.
I’m [G]gonna pick coal where the [C]blue heavens [G]roll
And sing with the [D]Angel [Em]band. And
[G]Sing with the [D]Angel [Em]band.