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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 [Dm] April 27th, in the [C] year of '91,
'bout a [Am] mile below the surface in the [Dm] warm Kentucky sun.
The [Dm] late shift was ending and the [C] early shift was late,
and the [Am] foreman ate his dinner from a [Dm] dirty tin plate.
CHORUS:
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/f/folksmen/blood_on_the_coal_crd.html ]
[Dm] Blood on the tracks, [C] blood in the mine,
[Am] Brothers and sisters what a [Dm] terrible time.
[Dm] Old '97 went [C] in the wrong hole,
Now in [Am] mine number 60, there's [Dm] blood on the coal,
[Dm] Blood On the Coal,[Dm] BLOOD ON THE CO--[C]--AL....[Dm]
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.
Any questions, comments, criticisms, please contact Keith at:
smagboy1@gmail.com. Enjoy!
