Hazard, Kentucky - Phil Ochs

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, 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, let’s look at old Kentucky for a while

It’s 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

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 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

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, our standard of living is 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 lift our feet up off the ground

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