Jean Ritchie

The L And N Dont Stop Here Anymore

Jean Ritchie


Tom: Em

Em  D  Em

[Verse 1]
   Em           D            Em
Oh when I was a curly-headed baby
  Em            D             Em
My daddy set me down upon his knee
      Em            D                      Em
Said "Son you go to school, and learn your letters
      Bm                         Em
Don't be no dusty miner, like me"

[Chorus]
      D                                          Em
I was born and raised at the mouth of the Hazard Holler
D                                         Em
Coal cars roarin' and a'rumblin a'past my door
Em
Now they stand in a rusty row of empties
        Bm                       Em
And the L & N don't stop here anymore

[Verse 2]
  Em               D            Em
I used to think my daddy was a black man
     Em              D               Em
With scrip enough to buy the company store
    Em               D              Em
But now he goes downtown with empty pockets
        Bm                         Em
And his face is white as February snow

[Chorus]
     D                                           Em
I was born and raised at the mouth of the Hazard Holler
D                                         Em
Coal cars roarin' and a'rumblin a'past my door
Em                  D             Em
Now they stand in a rusty row of empties
        Bm                       Em
And the L & N don't stop here anymore

[Verse 3]
     Em               D                 Em
Last night I dreamt I went down to the office
   Em            D             Em
To get my payday like I done before
        Em               D              Em
Them old kudzu vines had covered up the doorway
              Bm                                              Em
And there was trees and grass well a'growin right through the floor

[Instrumental]
Em  D  Em

[Verse 4]
   Em               D                Em
I never thought I'd live to love the coaldust
       Em                 D                Em
Never thought I'd pray to hear the whistle roar
   Em                    D                     Em
But Lord how I wish that grass could change to money
     Bm                                Em
Them greenbacks filled my pockets once more

[Chorus]
      D                                          Em
I was born and raised at the mouth of the Hazard Holler
D                                         Em
Coal cars roarin' and a'rumblin a'past my door
Em                  D             Em
Now they stand in a rusty row of empties
        Bm                       Em
And the L & N don't stop here anymore