Hazard, Kentucky Lyrics - Phil Ochs

Here's a song 'bout, 'Hazard, Kentucky' 

Well, some people think that unions are too strong 

Union leaders should go back where they belong 

But I wish that they could see a little more of poverty 

And they might start to sing a different song 

Well, let's look at old Kentucky for a while 

It is hard to find a miner who will smile 

Well, the constitution's fine, but it's hard reading in the mines 

And when welfare stops, the trouble starts to pile 

Well, minin' is a hazard in Hazard, Kentucky 

And if you ain't minin' there, well, my friends, you're awful lucky 

'Cause if you don't get silicosis or pay that's just atrocious 

You'll be screamin' for a union that will care 

Well, the depression was ended with the war 

But nobody told Kentucky, that is sure 

Some are living in a sewer while the jobs are getting fewer 

But more coal is mined than ever was before 

Well, minin' is a hazard in Hazard, Kentucky 

And if you ain't minin' there, you're awful lucky 

'Cause if you don't get silicosis or pay that's just atrocious 

You'll be screamin' for a union that will care 

Well, the badge of Sheriff Combs always shines 

And when duty calls he seldom ever whines 

Well, I don't like raisin' thunder, but it sort of makes you wonder 

When he runs the law and also runs the mines 

Of course, I know 

Well, our standard of living is the highest all around 

But our standard of giving is the lowest when you're down 

So give a yell and a whistle when they light that union missile 

And we'll all lift our feet up off the ground 

Minin' is a hazard in Hazard, Kentucky 

And if you ain't minin' there, you're awful lucky 

If you don't get silicosis or pay that's just atrocious 

You'll be screamin for a union that will care