Readin' Rightin' Rt. 23

They learned readin' rightin' route 23

To the jobs that lay waitin' in those cities factories

They didn't know that old highway could lead them to a world of misery

Have you ever been down kentucky way say south of Prestonburg

Have you ever been up in a holler have you ever heard

A mountain man cough his life away

From diggin' that black coal in those dark mines those dark mines

If you had you might just understand the reason that they left is all behind

They learned readin' rightin' route 23

To the jobs that lay waitin' in those cities factories

They learned readin' rightin' roads to the north

To the luxury and comfort a coal line can't afford

They thought readin' rightin' route 23

Would take them to the good life that they had never seen

They didn't know that old highway could lead them to a world of misery

[ guitar ]

Have you ever seen 'em put the kids in the car after work on Ffriday night

Pull up in a holler about two a.m. and see a light still burnin' bright

Those mountain folks sat up that late

Just to hold those little grandkids in their arms in their arms

And I'm proud to say that I've been blessed

And touched by their sweet hillbilly charm

They learned readin' rightin' route 23...

Yeah it turns out that that old highway leads you to a world of misery