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