PaulCo - Posted - 02/03/2012:  14:50:55

I would dearly love a copy of the lyrics. I have been trying to decipher from Hazel's own YouTube rendition (an amazing woman and fantastic song) but there are many parts I still cannot determine. I live in Hamilton, New Zealand, and last year we had our own Pike River mining disaster - 27 killed possible through the carelessness of management.

I would like to sing this at our next Bluegrass concert - I play guitar and 5-string banjo. I look forward to any help someone may be able to give me. Many thanks in anticipation, Paul Corboy - email: hawkeye@xtra.co.nz

DaddyJ - Posted - 02/03/2012:  20:25:35

I just took a stab at it and I'm pretty sure this is it.  I included a few footnotes for reference.  Some of her pronunciations are a little tough but I grew up in the mountains of southwest Virginia so I speak the lingo pretty well myself.  Or at least, I can interpret.  

Beautiful song by the way, and totally new to me.  Thanks for turning me on to it.

Coal Miner's Grave by Hazel Dickens

Up there on that hillside, there’s an old miner’s grave

And the briars and bushes about cover it up these days

And there’s no one to claim it, our guarantee’s gone away

For he was only a miner, and it’s only a coal miner’s grave

So pay no attention, it’s only an old miner’s grave

Pay no attention to the briars and the weeds, let them stay

‘Cause who’s gonna miss him (or) care that he’s gone away

For he was only a miner, and it’s only a coal miner’s grave

Francis Easton, from Holly Grove, WVA(1)

In nineteen and thirteen, loaded coal ten hours a day

Six days a week, forty seven and a half cents a ton

He was shot down by gun thugs at the young age of thirty one

So the briars and brambles, ramble all over his grave

Like the thorns in his life, for living he had to pay

Now there’s no one to miss him, care that he’s gone away

For he was only a miner, and it’s only a coal miner’s grave

So is this little marker his only memorial today

A man who gave his life for the UMW of A

Is this how we remember all the sacrifices he made

To let the briars and the weeds take over his union and grave

(1)   WVA = West Virginia

(2)   UMWA = United Mine Workers of America

Kallesandria - Posted - 02/03/2012:  20:26:08

I sent you an email Paul, with the lyrics, as best as I could decipher them!!

Ooops, DaddyJ....I did the same and got just about the same lyrics as you.  I did miss the word "loaded" in the 2nd line of the 3rd verse.  I think it actually might be "loading" but I heard it as "roding"........so much for my ears!!    Here's what I got:

Up there on the hillside, there’s an old miner’s grave

And the briars and bushes about covered it up these days

And there’s no one to claim it or care if he’s gone away

For he was only a miner, and it’s only a coal miner’s grave

So pay no attention, it’s only an old miner’s grave

Pay no attention to the bryars and the weeds, let them stay

Cuz who’s gonna miss him, or care that he’s gone away

For he was only a miner, and it’s only a coal miner’s grave

Francis Esteph, from Holly Grove W. VA

In nineteen and thirteen, roding coal ten hours a day

Six days a week, forty seven and a half cents a ton

He was shot down by gun thugs, at the young age of thirty one

So the briars and brambles, ramble all over his grave

Like the thorns in his life, for living, he had to pay

Now there’s no one to miss him, or care that he’s gone away

For he was only a miner, and it’s only a coal miner’s grave

So this little marker, his only memorial today

A man who gave his life for the UMW of A

Is this how we remember all the sacrifices he made

To let the briars and the weeds take over his union and grave

Notes:  The line “Holly Grove W VA”  is the town Holly Grove, West Virginia

            The reference in the last verse to the UMW of A is the United Mine Workers of America

Karen 

Edited by - Kallesandria on 02/03/2012 20:32:14

DaddyJ - Posted - 02/03/2012:  20:46:08

Lol.  Beat you by one minute.  Dang, you gotta be quick around here...

Fortunately I have neighbors that speak with the exact same accent that Hazel does so it wasn't too difficult to decipher.  In fact I live about an hour away from where she grew up.  I can see how some of it wouldn't make a lot of sense to someone across the pond though...

DaddyJ - Posted - 02/03/2012:  21:14:54

I did some more checking.  My confidence was unfounded.  Your third line is the correct one.  Also, the man's name was Francis Estep.  You just about nailed it.

I'm pretty sure it is "loading" though....or loaded...dang!

Edited by - DaddyJ on 02/03/2012 21:17:23

Kallesandria - Posted - 02/03/2012:  22:34:19

LOL...and I don't even have that advantage of being from the south.  After spending the majority of my life in New England, I had my own corruption of the English language.  Surprisingly, I found most of those words in Hazel Dickens' song fairly easy to comprehend and type out! 

Karen 

skyraider50 - Posted - 02/04/2012:  07:01:48

I never heard that song before.
WOW...kind of a haunting.....can't turn it off kind of song..

GuitarTom2 - Posted - 02/06/2012:  11:34:58

Here is a Chord Lyrics Sheet I worked out over the weekend...

I did a banjo tab of it in Tabledit... It's posted over on the BHO...

See attched PDF...

Tom

banjotom2.com

It's Only A Coal Miner's Grave - Hazel Dickens

skyraider50 - Posted - 02/06/2012:  17:38:19

Nice Job Tom!

kclinton58 - Posted - 04/22/2012:  18:06:33

Up there on the hillside,

 there’s a coal miner’s grave

And the briars and bushes

about cover it up these days

And there’s no one to claim it

 or care that he’s gone away

For he was only a miner,

and it’s only a coal miner’s grave



 

(chorus)

 So pay no attention,

 it’s only an old miner’s grave

 Pay no attention to the briars and the weeds,

 let them stay

 For who’s gonna miss him,

 or care that he’s gone away

 For he was only a miner,

 and it’s only a coal miner’s grave



 



 Francis Estep,

 from Holly Grove W. VA

 In nineteen and thirteen,

 loaded coal ten hours a day

 Six days a week,

 forty seven and a half cents a ton

 He was shot down by gun thugs,

 at the young age of thirty one



 



 Now the briars and brambles,

 ramble all over his grave

 And like the thorns in his life,

 for just living, he had to pay

 Now there’s no one to claim him,

 or care that he’s gone away

 For he was only a miner,

 and it’s only a coal miner’s grave



 



 Well Is this little marker,

 his only memorial today

 A man who gave his life

 for the UMW of A

 Is this how we remember

 all the sacrifices he made

 To let the briars and the weeds  

take over his union and grave



Chorus

Edited by - kclinton58 on 04/22/2012 18:11:28

danrkeva - Posted - 12/14/2012:  19:23:29

Anyone ever do a flatpick guitar tab to this?
thanks
Dan

PaulCo - Posted - 01/24/2014:  09:23:12

quote:Thanks for your help everyone.  Unfortunately I am unable to find the Tab n the BHO site.  A gret song indeed.  Paul.

---

Originally posted by GuitarTom2

 

Here is a Chord Lyrics Sheet I worked out over the weekend...

I did a banjo tab of it in Tabledit... It's posted over on the BHO...

See attched PDF...

Tom

banjotom2.com

---