Tossed and turned the night before in some old motel
Subconsciously recalling some old sinful things I done
My buddy drove the car and those big coal trucks shook us up
As we drove on into Hyden in the early morning sun.

Passed the hound dogs and some dominique chickens
Temporary looking houses with their lean and bashful kids
Every hundred yards a sign proclaimed the Christ was coming soon
And I thought oh man he'd sure be disappointed if he did.

On the way we talked about the forty miners
Of the thirty nine who died and one who lived to tell the tale
We stopped for beans and corn bread at the Ed 'n' Lois Cafe
Then we went to see the sheriff at the Leslie County jail.

They took us to the scene of that disaster
I was so susrprised to not find any sign of death at all
Just another country hillside with some mud holes and some junk
The mines were deadly silent like a rat home in the wall.

It was just like being right inside of a shotgun
The old man coughed and lit a cigarette that he had rolled
Back in town I bought a heavy jacket from the store
It was sunny down in Hyden but somehow the town was cold.

The old man introduced the undertaker
Who seemed refreshed despite the kind of work I knew he did
We talked about the pretty lady from the Grand Ole Opry
We talked about the money she was raising for the kids.

Well, I guess the old man thought we were reporters
He kept reminding me of how his simple name was spelled
Some lady said they worth more money now than when they's a livin'
And I'll leave it there cause I suppose she told it pretty well...