When I was 16 took me a 15 year old wife
I guess I've been a working man just about all my life
Like my daddy before me I've done the best I could
Somehow things turned out a little worse than they should
Logan West Virginia is a hundred mile behind
Coal mines took my boys life and my Janies piece of mind
All I know is back in Logan I ain't never been that smart
But I know I had to leave there to heal my Janies heart
Damn these hard times
Damn the coal mines
Damn the good dreams gone cold
While I'm at it, damn this crooked road
Me and Janie worked hard to get our children grown
Junior was our first born and he gut us to the bone
We learned long ago that you don't doubt the good lords plans
But some things is hard to take lord we just tryin' to understand
Damn these hard times
Damn the coal mines
Damn the good dreams gone cold
While I'm at it, damn this crooked road
There's a big blue ocean about 300 mile
Sun on the water just might make my Janie smile
Light in her eyes is worth more to me than gold
Hope runs straight line right down this mountain road
Damn these hard times
Damn these coal mines
Damn the good dreams gone cold
While I'm at it, damn this crooked road
While I'm at it, damn this crooked road