Coal River
View chords used in this chart
Intro: C G E Am
Am C G Am
Oh coal river won't you wash my bones away
Am C E
I'm slaving for the company and I can't get any pay
Am C G Am
Well mining coal ain't a way to make a life
Am C E
And I can't feed the hunger of three kids and a wife
Am C G Am
Well now the haulers are empty and the company's left town
Am C G Am
And there ain't no more mountains for coal river to bend around
( C G E Am )
Am C G Am
Well the curses in these mountains have taken many of our kind
Am C E
And the souls dance upon the sands where that old river winds
Am C G Am
Oh Lord won't you take me before that mountain does
Am C G Am
A life in these hills ain't what I thought it was
( C G E Am )
Am C G Am
Coal river cuts the land of where I'll rest my soal
Am C E
And through these barren mountains my story will be told
Am C G Am
I'm headed for a pine box, my mining days are through
Am C G Am
Boy don't trust these mountains for the curse they'll put on you
Am C G Am
Oh coal river won't you wash my bones away
Am C E
I'm slaving for the company and I can't get any pay
Am C G Am
Well mining coal ain't a way to make a life
Am C E
And I can't feed the hunger of three kids and a wife
Am C G Am
Well now the haulers are empty and the company's left town
Am C G Am
And there ain't no more mountains for coal river to bend around
Am C G Am
No there ain't no more mountains for coal river to bend around
How to play Coal River
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is C. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.