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Coal Tattoo (B​.​E. Wheeler) (Early Days)

from Early Days by Tim Harrison

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This is a song about the Kentucky coal fields, but it could as easily apply to any one of our Canadian mining towns. The "Coal Tattoo" is what a miner got if he was cut but a piece of coal. The scar would heal as a blue tattoo. Too many of these, and miners were fired as the employers feared that the miner would then get black lung disease as well.

lyrics

COAL TATTOO
©Billy Edd Wheeler 1963 (arrangement by Tim Harrison)

I’m goin’ down that coal road leavin’ this town
Hear the rubber tires whine
Good bye buckeye and white sycamore
I’m leavin’ you behind
Cause I’ve been a miner all of my days, layin’ down track in the hole
Got a back like iron wood bent with the wind
And blood veins blue as the coal, boys, blood veins blue as the coal

Somebody said that’s a strange tattoo
That you have on the side of your head
I said that’s the mark of number 9 coal
Any closer I’d have been dead
Still I love the rumble and I love the dark
I love the cool of the slate
But I’m goin’ down a new road lookin’ for a job
It’s this travel and lookin’ I hate, boys, this travel and lookin’ I hate

I stood for the unions and I stood on the line
Worked against the companies
I stood for the UMWA
Now who’s gonna’ stand for me
‘cause I got no money and I got no pay
All I got me is a troubled soul
And this blue tattoo on the side of my head
Made by number 9 coal boys, made by number 9 coal

When I die and I go to heaven
Land of my dreams
I won’t have to worry about losin’ my job
To hard times and big machines
No I'm not gonna pay my money away
On dues and hospital plans,
I'm gonna pick coal where the blue heavens roll
And sing with the Angel Bands boys,
Sing With The Angel Bands.

credits

from Early Days, track released June 1, 1985
Tim Harrison, vocals, guitar; David Woodhead, bass; Al Cross, drums; Paul Mills, guitar.

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Tim Harrison Owen Sound, Ontario

Biography
Tim Harrison has worked as an artist, songwriter, and as a creator of arts events.. Along with founding the Owen Sound Summerfolk Festival,Tim has been Artistic Director of the Mariposa, Northwind, and Eaglewood Folk Festivals, and the Big Fish Music Fest.
Tim has released eight highly acclaimed recordings of original material and has toured extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada. ... more

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