Standard (EADGBE)

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This ChordPro is based on the Folksmen's live performance

aired recently on FOX's MadTV. I'm not particularly

accomplished, so this may lack some of the subtle nuances of

the playing, but the gist of the song is here (I hope)--this

is my first submission. Please feel free to make corrections

and/or additions.

(Played quickly with standard Folk strum pattern.)

Intro

The intro is two measures of picking on Dm, but up above the

12th fret, like this: (x x 12 14 15 13)

Then the song goes into a repetition of Dm, C, Am, Dm holding

at the end of the chorus on Dm for a three part harmony of

"Blood on the Coal," with the last "Coal" dropping to C and

then ending out on Dm as outlined below.

Verse 1

It was April 27th, in the year of '91,

'bout a mile below the surface in the warm Kentucky sun.

The late shift was ending and the early shift was late,

and the foreman ate his dinner from a dirty tin plate.

Chorus

Blood on the tracks, blood in the mine,

Brothers and sisters what a terrible time.

Old '97 went in the wrong hole,

Now in mine number 60, there's blood on the coal,

Blood On the Coal, BLOOD ON THE CO----AL....

Verse 2

The slag pits was steamin', it was 7:25,

Every miner worked the coalface, every one of them alive.

Train came round the corner, you could hear the trestle groan,

But the switcher wasn't listenin', so he left the switch alone.

Chorus

Verse 3

Well the walls began to tremblin', the men began to yell,

You could hear that lonesome whistle, like an echo out of...well.*

They dropped their picks and shovels as to safety they did run,

For to stay amongst the living in the year of '91.

Chorus

Verse 4

Now an Irishman named Murphy said, "I'll stop that iron horse,"

As he stood athwart its passage--it crushed him dead, of course.

And I hope he hears the irony, whene'er this tale is told,

But the train that took his life was burnin' good Kentucky coal (HEY!)

Chorus

*The Folksmen hold out on Dm here instead of saying "Hell" and

play an extra two measures over the Dm with the 2nd guitar playing

a sort of dissident sounding form on Dm to illustrate Hell, I guess.