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Total ratings: 261
Length: 4:05
Plays (last 30 days): 0
When I was a curly headed baby
My daddy set me down on his knee
Saying, 'Son you go to school
You learn your letters
Now, don't you be no dusty miner, boy, like me'
Oh, I was born and raised at the mouth of the Hazzard Holler
Where the coal cars rolled and rumbled past my door
Now they stand in a rusty row of all empties
Because the L&N don't stop here anymore
I used to think my daddy was a black man
With scrip enough to buy the company store
But now he goes to town with empty pockets
And, Lord, his face is white
As the February snow
I was born and raised at the mouth of the Hazzard Holler
Where the coal cars rolled and rumbled past my door
But now they stand in a rusty row of all empties
Because the L&N don't stop here anymore
Never thought I'd live to learn to love the coaldust
Never thought I'd pray to hear those temples roar
But, God, I wish the grass would turn to money
And then them greenbacks
Would fill my pockets once more
I was born and raised at the mouth of the Hazzard Holler
Where the coal cars rolled and rumbled past my door
But now they stand in a rusty row of all empties
Because the L&N don't stop here anymore
Last night I dreamed I went down to the office
To get my payday like I done before
But them old kudzu vines, they was covering over the doorway
And there was leaves and grass
Growing right up to the floor
I was born and raised at the mouth of the Hazzard Holler
Where the coal cars rolled and rumbled past my door
But now they stand in a rusty row of all empties
Because the L&N don't stop here anymore
Because the L&N don't stop here anymore
Aw, the L&N don't stop here anymore
getting her concerts cancelled
I was wondering the same. According to AMG, she's anything but a one-hit wonder (well even I, a complete amateur, could have told you that) and has continued to release new material as recently as 2009. Much of her work has been gospel-influenced.
I have always loved Michelle and all her albums....she has so many great cuts! Saw her about 2 years ago at the Hughes Room in Toronto, a great performance except that her gospel back-up singers apparently got stuck at the border and couldn't get into Canada so she was completely solo.
Must have been a long time ago when I rated this song. Don't remember I did. Just caught my attention - again, as I had to realise
Why Michelle is not a star? Or is she...?
In Europe she is basically "unknown"!
Not for me.
Why Michelle is not a star? Or is she...?
In Europe she is basically "unknown"!
Surely you Jest ?
Yes. I think it's "shock", present tense, in the song. But I quibble. And tardily.
Interesting about the cover of this album
The singer's name dates back to the one she gave when arrested in 1984 at a protest called "The War Chest Tour" during the Democratic National Convention in San Francisco, California. The demonstration challenged the practice of U.S. corporations giving campaign contributions to both Democratic and Republican parties, thus benefiting from political favors regardless of which party is elected. "Michelle Shocked" was a play on words intended to resemble the phrase "shell shocked." The front cover of one of her best-known albums, Short Sharp Shocked, shows her restrained by the chokehold of a San Francisco policeman in a front-page photograph published by the San Francisco Examiner the following day.
A ten just for that. The song deserves it anyway.
Don't they just? You could spend years researching the ways that railroads (railways this side of the Pond) have been used as metaphors in songs, and I'll bet that plenty of PhDs have been written on the subject. I think it might be something specific to the US, on account of the sheer size of the country and its pioneering history. Somehow the UK railways don't have quite the same, erm, romanticism and imagery, perhaps because this country's so small in comparison.
Strange. Having finished a Delderfeld novel for the first time since I was 13, I was just thinking about a comparison of our coal mines and the welsh of 100 years ago. In Delderfields ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._F._Delderfield ) 19th century England, trains were a mixed blessing. From this side of the pond, trains were not controversial to the majority at any point.
I enjoy this version of the song but haven't placed the author yet.
Interesting about the cover of this album
The singer's name dates back to the one she gave when arrested in 1984 at a protest called "The War Chest Tour" during the Democratic National Convention in San Francisco, California. The demonstration challenged the practice of U.S. corporations giving campaign contributions to both Democratic and Republican parties, thus benefiting from political favors regardless of which party is elected. "Michelle Shocked" was a play on words intended to resemble the phrase "shell shocked." The front cover of one of her best-known albums, Short Sharp Shocked, shows her restrained by the chokehold of a San Francisco policeman in a front-page photograph published by the San Francisco Examiner the following day.
As do poverty and despair...
agreed...Texas Campfire Tapes was the start.
She's still around: https://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:0ifqxqr5ld0e~T1
Don't they just? You could spend years researching the ways that railroads (railways this side of the Pond) have been used as metaphors in songs, and I'll bet that plenty of PhDs have been written on the subject. I think it might be something specific to the US, on account of the sheer size of the country and its pioneering history. Somehow the UK railways don't have quite the same, erm, romanticism and imagery, perhaps because this country's so small in comparison.
And I'm such a sucker for them.
This one's got trains AND coal. Always reminds me of John Prine's 'Muhlenburg County'.
And I'm such a sucker for them.