To the jobs that lay waitin' in those cities' factories
To the jobs that lay waiting in those cities' factories
Have you ever been up in a Holler?
The reason that they left is all behind
Just to hold those little grandkids
In their arms, in their arms
They didn't know that old highway
Leads you to a world of misery
And I'm proud to say that I've been blessed
Have you ever been down Kentucky way
Could lead them to a world of misery
They learned readin', writin', roads to the north
To the luxury and comfort a coal miner can't afford
They thought readin', writin', roads to the north
They didn't know that old highway
Have you ever heard?
Would take them to the good life that they had never seen
Have you ever seen 'em
To the luxury and comfort a coal miner can't afford
They thought readin', writin', Route 23
And touched by their sweet hillbilly charm
Pull up in a Holler about 2 a.m
Would take them to the good life that they had never seen
A mountain man cough his life away
Could lead them to a world of misery
They didn't know that old highway
They thought readin', writin', Route 23
Those mountain folks sat up that late
From diggin' that black coal
If you had you might just understand
In those dark mines, those dark mines
They learned readin', writin', roads to the north
They thought readin', writin', Route 23
And see a light still shinin' bright
It turns out that old highway
Put the kids in the car after work on Friday night
Would take them to the good life that they had never seen
To the luxury and comfort a coal miner can't afford
They found out that old highway
They learned readin', writin', Route 23
Say south of Prestonburg?
They learned readin', writin', Route 23
Could lead them to a world of misery
