Standard (EADGBE)
Intro
Verse 1
It was April 27, in the year of 91,
Bout a mile below the surface and the warm Kentucky sun.
The late shift was ending, and the early shift was late,
The foreman ate his dinner, from a dirty tin plate.
Chorus 1
Blood on the tracks, blood in the mine,
Brothers and sisters, what a terrible time.
Ole 97 went in the wrong hole,
Now in mine number 60, there's blood on the coal,
Blood on the coal, blood on the coal.
Verse 2
The slag pits were steamin', it was 7:25,
Every miner worked the coal face; every one of them alive.
The train came round the corner,
You could hear the tressel groan,
But the switcher wasn't listnin', so he left the switch alone!
Chorus 2
Blood on the tracks, blood in the mine,
Brothers and sisters, what a terrible time.
Ole 97 went in the wrong hole,
Now in mine number 60, there's blood on the coal,
Blood on the coal, blood on the coal.
Verse 3
Well, the walls began to tremble and the men began to yell,
They 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 among the living, in the year of ninety-one.
Chorus 3
Blood on the tracks, blood in the mine,
Brothers and sisters, what a terrible time.
Ole 97 went in the wrong hole,
Now in mine number 60, there's blood on the coal,
Blood on the coal, blood on the coal.
Verse 4
An Irishman named Murphy said; "I'll stop that iron horse!"
And he stood to athwart it's passage and it crushed him dead of course.
And I hope he hears the irony, when e're this tale is told,
The train that took his life was burning good Kentucky coal. (Hey!)
Chorus 4
Blood on the tracks, blood in the mine,
Brothers and sisters, what a terrible time.
Ole 97 went in the wrong hole,
Now in mine number 60, there's blood on the coal,
Blood on the coal, blood on the coal.
CHORD DIAGRAMS: