Oh when I was a curly-headed baby My daddy sat me down upon his knee Said "Son, you go to school and learn your letters Don't be no dusty miner like me." I was born and raised in the mouth of Hazard hollow Coal cars roaring and rumbling past my door Now they're standing rusty rolling empty And the L&N don't stop here anymore I used to think my daddy was a black man With script enough to buy the company store But now he goes down town with empty pockets And his face is white as February snow I was born and raised at the mouth of the Hazard hollow The coal cars roared and rumbled past my door But now they're standing rusty rolling empty And the L&N don't stop here anymore Last night I dreamt I went down to the office To get my payday like I've done before Them old kudzu vines had covered up the doorway And there were trees and grass, Well they're growing right through the floor I never thought I'd live to love the coal dust I never thought I'd pray to hear that whistle roar But Lord, how I wish the grass could change to money And the green backs fill my pockets once more I was born and raised at the mouth of the Hazard hollow The coal cars rolled and rumbling past my door But now they standing rusty rolling empty And the L&N don't stop here anymore