E
Many a man down in these here hills
E B7 E
Made a living off that old black gold
E
Now there ain't nothing but welfare and pills
E B7 E
And the wind never felt so cold
E
I'll be one of the first in a long long line
E B7 E
Not to go down from that old black lung
E
And my death will be slower than the rest of my kind
E B7 E
And my life will be sadder than the songs they all sung
Chorus:
A E
Old King Coal what are we gonna do
E B7 E
When the mountains are gone and so are you
A E
They come from the city to lend a hand
E B7
carrying signs saying, Shut the mines down
A E A
We ain't looking for pity and you don't understand
E B7 E
So go back to your city now cause this ain't your town
Piano
E
My Great Grandfather spent his days in a coal mine
E B7 E
and his nights on the porch in a chair
E
Now he's in heaven and down here in hell
B7 A E
The rivers run muddy and the mountains are bare
Chorus:
A E
Old King Coal, what are we gonna do
E B7 E
When the mountains are gone and so are you
A E
Well now Old King Coal, what are we gonna do
E B7 E
When the mountains are gone and so are you
E
Many a man down in these here hills
E B7 E
Made a living off that old black gold
E
Now there ain't nothing but welfare and pills
E B7 E
And the wind never felt so cold
E
I'll be one of the first in a long long line
E B7 E
Not to go down from that old black lung
E
And my death will be slower than the rest of my kind
E B7 E
And my life will be sadder than the songs they all sung
Chorus:
A E
Old King Coal what are we gonna do
E B7 E
When the mountains are gone and so are you
A E
They come from the city to lend a hand
E B7
carrying signs saying, Shut the mines down
A E A
We ain't looking for pity and you don't understand
E B7 E
So go back to your city now cause this ain't your town
Piano
E
My Great Grandfather spent his days in a coal mine
E B7 E
and his nights on the porch in a chair
E
Now he's in heaven and down here in hell
B7 A E
The rivers run muddy and the mountains are bare
Chorus:
A E
Old King Coal, what are we gonna do
E B7 E
When the mountains are gone and so are you
A E
Well now Old King Coal, what are we gonna do
E B7 E
When the mountains are gone and so are you