Jewell Ridge Coal (Live)

from Live At McCabe's Guitar Shop by Jeni & Billy

/

about

This song honors Jeni's great-grandmother, Narcie Smith, who lost her husband to death in the mines of Southwest Virginia. Many of her daughters also married miners, so that in a sense the women were married to the mines.

lyrics

Daddy had something he could never hold
and he’d lost it down in that Jewell Ridge coal.
Mama said, “Daddy, can’t you let it go?”
He kept on digging that Jewell Ridge coal.

Our reward’s in Heaven.
It sure ain’t below.
No, there ain’t no diamonds
in that Jewell Ridge coal.

Sister wanted someone to have and to hold.
So, she married right into that Jewell Ridge coal.
Mama said, “Baby, can’t you let him go?”
she wrapped her arms ‘round that Jewell Ridge coal.

Our reward’s in Heaven.
It sure ain’t below.
No, there ain’t no diamonds
in that Jewell Ridge coal.

We all want something we can never hold.
We keep on digging like to save our soul.
But there ain’t no light in a pitch black hole.
No, nothing’s shining down in that coal.

Mama loved something she could never hold.
Ashes and dust ‘neath that Jewell Ridge coal.
Mama said, “Lordy, I just can’t let go,
since we lost Daddy to that Jewell Ridge coal.”

Our reward’s in Heaven.
It sure ain’t below.
No, there ain’t no diamonds
in that Jewell Ridge coal.

Our reward’s in Heaven.
It sure ain’t below.
No, there ain’t no diamonds
in that Jewell Ridge coal.

No, there ain’t no diamonds in that Jewell Ridge coal.

credits

from Live At McCabe's Guitar Shop, track released May 1, 2015
© Jeni Hankins
Jeni Hankins, guitar and vocals
Billy Kemp, guitar and vocals

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Jeni Hankins London, UK

Jeni Hankins grew up in the coalfields of Appalachian in Southwest Virginia among a family of miners, moonshiners, and journalists. Her writing pulls the grit, gumption, and keen sense of observation out of that heritage like drawing water from her grandmother’s well.

In every song, Jeni’s “true sense of place shines through – old as the hills, but brand new at the same time.”
... more

contact / help

Contact Jeni Hankins

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this track or account

Jeni Hankins recommends:

If you like Jewell Ridge Coal (Live), you may also like: