Readin Writin Rt 23

Intro: D

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They learned readin', writin', Route 23
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To the jobs that lay waiting in those cities' factories
            A
they didn't know that that old highway
      G                          D
Could lead them to a world of misery
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Have you ever been down Kentucky way

Say south of Prestonburg

Have you ever been up in a holler

Have you ever heard
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A mountain man cough his life away

From diggin' that black coal
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In those dark mines, those old dark mines
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If you had you might just understand
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The reason that they left is all behind

Chorus:
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'cause They learned readin', wrightin', Route 23
       G                                           D
To the jobs that lay waitin' in those cities' factories

They learned readin', writin', roads to the north
       G                                      D
To the luxury and comfort a coal miner can't afford

They thought readin', writin', Route 23
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Ah Would take them to the good life that they had never seen
            A
They didn't know that old highway
      G                       D
Could lead them to a world of misery

guitar solo:  D A G D

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Have you ever seen 'em

Put the kids in the car after work on Friday night

Pull up in a holler about 2 A. M.

And see a light still shinin' bright
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Those mountain folks sat up that late

to hold those little grandkids
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In their arms, in their arms
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And I'm proud to say that I've been blessed
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And touched by their sweet hillbilly charm

Chorus:
             D
They learned readin', writin', Route 23
       G                                           D
To the jobs that lay waiting in those cities' factories

They learned readin', writin', roads to the north
       G                                       D
To the luxury and comfort a coal miner can't afford

They thought readin', writin', Route 23
         G                                              D
Oh Would take them to the good life that they had never seen
            A
They didn't know that old highway
      G                         D
Could lead them to a world of misery
               A
Yeah, it turns out that that old highway,
G                         D
Leads you to a world of misery