Tom: D
Intro: D
D
They learned readin', writin', Route 23
G D
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
D
Have you ever been down Kentucky way
Say south of Prestonburg
Have you ever been up in a holler
Have you ever heard
G
A mountain man cough his life away
From diggin' that black coal
D
In those dark mines, those old dark mines
C
If you had you might just understand
G D
The reason that they left is all behind
Chorus:
D
'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
G D
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
D
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
G
Those mountain folks sat up that late
to hold those little grandkids
D
In their arms, in their arms
C
And I'm proud to say that I've been blessed
G D
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
