For Labor Day: Hazel Dickens - Coal Tattoo

[Mousetoescamper]

Last edited Mon Sep 5, 2022, 10:11 AM - Edit history (1)

My maternal grandfather was a West Virginia coal miner. He was a union man (UMWA) and a Democrat. I remember well a photo portrait of JFK prominently displayed in my grandparents' home and my soft-spoken grandfather's sometimes-political anecdotes. He's been gone for more than 30 years and would be horrified to know what has happened to West Virginia. Happy Labor Day.

Coal Tattoo
by Billy Edd Wheeler

Travelin' down that coal town road,
Listen to those rubber tires whine;
Goodbye to Buckeye and White Sycamore,
I'm leavin' you behind.
I been a coal man all my life
Layin' down track in the hole,
Got a back like an ironwood bent by the wind
Blood veins blue as the coal.

Somebody said "That's a strange tattoo
You have on the side of your head."
I said "That's a blue print left by the coal.
Just a little more and I'd be dead"
But I love the rumble and I love the dark
I love the cool of the slate.
But it's on down the new road lookin' for a job.
It's the travelin' and lookin' I hate.

I stood for the union, walked in the line,
Fought against the company.
I stood for the U. M. W. of A.
Now who's gonna stand for me?
I got no home and I got no pay,
Just got a worried soul;
And this blue tattoo on the side of my head
Left by the number nine coal.

Someday when I die and go
To Heaven, the land of my dreams,
I won't have to worry on losin' my job
To hard times and big machines.
I ain't gonna pay my money away
On dues and hospital plans.
I'm gonna pick coal while the blue heavens roll
And sing in the angel band.

[appalachiablue]

1. We were fortunate to see Hazel Dickens perform

at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in D.C. years ago. She was one powerful talent, a strong supporter of workers and unions and a native of Mercer Co., WVa.

FDR's picture hung on the walls of the homes of many miners in the Mountain State. Thanks to WVa.'s vote In 1960, JFK won the Democratic primary. He and LBJ were extremely popular in the solidly blue Democratic state.