Word came runnin’ down Main Street fast
Like a cold wind through the pines
Roof come down in the Number Four drift
Men still trapped inside
Storefront doors swung open wide
Church bells cut the air
And every soul in that coal dust town
Was standin’ right there
Pickup trucks lined the gravel road
Lights cut through the gray
Hard hats laid on tailgate steel
While nobody knew what to say
Mama’s cryin’, preacher’s prayin’
Men just starin’ at the ground
‘Cause every man in that dark old seam
Has brothers in this town
We ain’t just neighbors on this mountain
Ain’t just names in a payroll file
When the coal dust rises and trouble comes
We stand shoulder to shoulder awhile
When that mine goes quiet and the sirens cry
You’ll see what we’re about
We ain’t just a town in these hills
We’re family, no doubt
Rescue crews in orange vests
Headed straight below
Timbers creakin’, radios hummin’
Diggin’ careful, slow
Up above the coffee’s pourin’
Blankets passed around
Every prayer in West Virginia
Felt like it touched that ground
Then a shout come cracklin’ through the wire
Like thunder in the rain
Got ’em alive down past the fall
We’re bringin’ ’em out again
You could hear that cheer clear up the ridge
Rollin’ through the town
Like the mountains themselves were thankin’ God
For every man they found
We ain’t just neighbors on this mountain
Ain’t just names in a payroll file
When the coal dust rises and trouble comes
We stand shoulder to shoulder awhile
From the church house steps to the mine gate road
Every heart was beatin’ loud
That’s family in these hills
And we’re damn proud
Coal towns know that siren sound
Lord we pray we never do
But every soul here knows the drill
When the mountain splits in two
We ain’t just neighbors on this mountain
Ain’t just men who swing a pick
When one man’s buried in that black old seam
We’re all down there with him in it
And when they walk back out through that mine gate light
To their wives and kids somehow
You’ll see the strength of these hills
That’s family, right now
Next mornin’ the whistle blew again
Boots walked back down the line
‘Cause in these West Virginia hills
Family works the mine
“Family” is track number 8 on the Thumper Barrel album, No. 3 Mine.
Track: Family
Album: No. 3 Mine
ISRC: QZRP52615061
ASCAP: 935192045