The L&N Don’t Stop Here Anymore

Written by Jean Ritchie

Key of D · Chords: I III IV VI ii vi

Verse 1

     Em    D       Em
When I was a curly headed baby
             D          Em
My daddy set me down on his knee
                     D                    Em
Saying boy you go to school and you learn your letters
      B7                        Em
Don’t become no dusty miner boy like me.

Chorus

      F                                     G
And I was born and raised in the mouth of a Hazzard holler
      D                                Em
Where the coal cars rolled and rumbled past my door
                        F            G
But now they stand in a rusty row of empties
       Bm  D                   Em
‘Cause the L&N don’t stop here anymore.

Verse 2

              D                  Em
Now I used to think my daddy was a black man
                      D       Em
With script enough to buy the company store
              D                 Em
Oh but now he goes to town with empty pockets
         Bm                   D    Em
And Lord his face is as white as a February snow.

Verse 3

Never thought I’d ever live to love that coal dust
Never thought I’d pray to hear those tipples roar
Oh but God I wish the grass would turn to money
And feel my greenbacks in my pockets once more.

Verse 4

          Em D                  Em
Lastnight I dreamed I went down to the office
                 F              G
To get my payday like I’ve done before
But those kudzu vines they were covering over the doorway
    D                                                   G
And there were weeds and grass growing right up through the floor.