The Folksmen "Blood on the Coal"
Song Length: 3:04
Tempo: Moderate (about 124bpm)
This song was on the soundtrack to "A Mighty Wind". This band consists of the same
three members as that legendary group, Spinal Tap! It appears Michael McKean and
Christopher Guest have struck gold again with this parody.
Standard Tuning: EADGBE
Intro (0:00):
Guitar 1:
E------|-10----12----13----12----|-10----12----13----12----|
B---10-|----10----10----10----10-|----10----10----10-------|
G------|-------------------------|-------------------------|
D------|-------------------------|-------------------------|
A------|-------------------------|-------------------------|
E------|-------------------------|-------------------------|
Guitar 2:
E------|-------------------------|-------------------------|
B---10-|-10-----8-----6-----5----|-10-----8-----6-----5----|
G------|----10-----9-----7-----5-|----10-----9-----7-------|
D------|-------------------------|-------------------------|
A------|-------------------------|-------------------------|
E------|-------------------------|-------------------------|
Both Guitars (0:04):
Dm
E------1-----1-----1-----1-|----1-----1-----1-----1-|
B------3-----3-----3-----3-|----3-----3-----3-----3-|
G------2-----2-----2-----2-|----2-----2-----2-----2-|
D---0-----------0----------|-0-----------0----------|
A---------0-----------0----|-------0-----------0----|
E--------------------------|------------------------|
Verse 1 (0:09):
Dm C Em
E------1-----1-----1-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
B------3-----3-----3-------|----1-----1-----1-----0-|
G------2-----2-----2-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
D—--0-----------0----------|------------------------|
A---------0-----------0—-2-|-3-----------3-----2----|
E--------------------------|-------3----------------|
Am Dm
E------0-----0-----0-----0-|----1-----1-----1-----1-|
B------1-----1-----1-----1-|----3-----3-----3-----3-|
G------2-----2-----2-----2-|----2-----2-----2-----2-|
D---------------------2----|-0-----------0----------|
A---0-----0-----0----------|-------0-----------0----|
E--------------------------|------------------------|
Dm C Em
E------1-----1-----1-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
B------3-----3-----3-------|----1-----1-----1-----0-|
G------2-----2-----2-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
D—--0-----------0----------|------------------------|
A---------0-----------0—-2-|-3-----------3-----2----|
E--------------------------|-------3----------------|
Am Dm
E------0-----0-----0-----0-|-1-----1-----1----------|
B------1-----1-----1-----1-|-3-----3-----3----------|
G------2-----2-----2-----2-|-2-----2-----2-----2----|
D---------------------2----|-0-----0-----0-----0----|
A---0-----0-----0----------|------------------------|
E--------------------------|------------------------|
Chorus (0:26):
Dm C Em
E------1-----1-----1-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
B------3-----3-----3-------|----1-----1-----1-----0-|
G------2-----2-----2-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
D—--0-----------0----------|------------------------|
A---------0-----------0—-2-|-3-----------3-----2----|
E--------------------------|-------3----------------|
Am Dm
E------0-----0-----0-----0-|----1-----1-----1-----1-|
B------1-----1-----1-----1-|----3-----3-----3-----3-|
G------2-----2-----2-----2-|----2-----2-----2-----2-|
D---------------------2----|-0-----------0----------|
A---0-----0-----0----------|-------0-----------0----|
E--------------------------|------------------------|
Dm C Em
E------1-----1-----1-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
B------3-----3-----3-------|----1-----1-----1-----0-|
G------2-----2-----2-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
D—--0-----------0----------|------------------------|
A---------0-----------0—-2-|-3-----------3-----2----|
E--------------------------|-------3----------------|
Am Dm
E------0-----0-----0-----0-|----1-----1-----1-----1-|
B------1-----1-----1-----1-|----3-----3-----3-----3-|
G------2-----2-----2-----2-|----2-----2-----2-----2-|
D---------------------2----|-0-----------0----------|
A---0-----0-----0----------|-------0-----------0----|
E--------------------------|------------------------|
Dm
E------1-----1-----1-----1-|----1-----1-----1-----1-|
B------3-----3-----3-----3-|----3-----3-----3-----3-|
G------2-----2-----2-----2-|----2-----2-----2-----2-|
D---0-----------0----------|-0-----------0----------|
A---------0-----------0----|-------0-----------0----|
E--------------------------|------------------------|
C Em Am
E------0-----0-----0-----0-|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
B------1-----1-----1-----0-|----1-----1-----1-----1-|
G------0-----0-----0-----0-|----2-----2-----2-----2-|
D—-------------------------|------------------------|
A---3-----------3-----2----|-0-----0-----0-----0----|
E---------3----------------|------------------------|
Verse 2 (0:52):
Dm C Em
E------1-----1-----1-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
B------3-----3-----3-------|----1-----1-----1-----0-|
G------2-----2-----2-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
D—--0-----------0----------|------------------------|
A---------0-----------0—-2-|-3-----------3-----2----|
E--------------------------|-------3----------------|
Am Dm
E------0-----0-----0-----0-|----1-----1-----1-----1-|
B------1-----1-----1-----1-|----3-----3-----3-----3-|
G------2-----2-----2-----2-|----2-----2-----2-----2-|
D---------------------2----|-0-----------0----------|
A---0-----0-----0----------|-------0-----------0----|
E--------------------------|------------------------|
Dm C Em
E------1-----1-----1-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
B------3-----3-----3-------|----1-----1-----1-----0-|
G------2-----2-----2-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
D—--0-----------0----------|------------------------|
A---------0-----------0—-2-|-3-----------3-----2----|
E--------------------------|-------3----------------|
Am Dm slap
E------0-----0-----0-----0-|-1-----1-----1-----I----|
B------1-----1-----1-----1-|-3-----3-----3-----I----|
G------2-----2-----2-----2-|-2-----2-----2-----I----|
D---------------------2----|-0-----0-----0-----I----|
A---0-----0-----0----------|-------------------I----|
E--------------------------|-------------------I----|
Chorus (1:08):
Dm C Em
E------1-----1-----1-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
B------3-----3-----3-------|----1-----1-----1-----0-|
G------2-----2-----2-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
D—--0-----------0----------|------------------------|
A---------0-----------0—-2-|-3-----------3-----2----|
E--------------------------|-------3----------------|
Am Dm
E------0-----0-----0-----0-|----1-----1-----1-----1-|
B------1-----1-----1-----1-|----3-----3-----3-----3-|
G------2-----2-----2-----2-|----2-----2-----2-----2-|
D---------------------2----|-0-----------0----------|
A---0-----0-----0----------|-------0-----------0----|
E--------------------------|------------------------|
Dm C Em
E------1-----1-----1-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
B------3-----3-----3-------|----1-----1-----1-----0-|
G------2-----2-----2-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
D—--0-----------0----------|------------------------|
A---------0-----------0—-2-|-3-----------3-----2----|
E--------------------------|-------3----------------|
Am Dm
E------0-----0-----0-----0-|----1-----1-----1-----1-|
B------1-----1-----1-----1-|----3-----3-----3-----3-|
G------2-----2-----2-----2-|----2-----2-----2-----2-|
D---------------------2----|-0-----------0----------|
A---0-----0-----0----------|-------0-----------0----|
E--------------------------|------------------------|
Dm
E------1-----1-----1-----1-|----1-----1-----1-----1-|
B------3-----3-----3-----3-|----3-----3-----3-----3-|
G------2-----2-----2-----2-|----2-----2-----2-----2-|
D---0-----------0----------|-0-----------0----------|
A---------0-----------0----|-------0-----------0----|
E--------------------------|------------------------|
C Em Am
E------0-----0-----0-----0-|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
B------1-----1-----1-----0-|----1-----1-----1-----1-|
G------0-----0-----0-----0-|----2-----2-----2-----2-|
D—-------------------------|------------------------|
A---3-----------3-----2----|-0-----0-----0-----0----|
E---------3----------------|------------------------|
Verse 3 (1:33):
Dm C Em
E------1-----1-----1-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
B------3-----3-----3-------|----1-----1-----1-----0-|
G------2-----2-----2-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
D—--0-----------0----------|------------------------|
A---------0-----------0—-2-|-3-----------3-----2----|
E--------------------------|-------3----------------|
Am Dm
E------0-----0-----0-----0-|----1-----1-----1-----1-|
B------1-----1-----1-----1-|----3-----3-----3-----3-|
G------2-----2-----2-----2-|----2-----2-----2-----2-|
D---------------------2----|-0-----------0----------|
A---0-----0-----0----------|-------0-----------0----|
E--------------------------|------------------------|
Split (1:41):
Guitar 1:
Tremolo~~~~~ Tremolo~~~~~~~~
E------7~~~~~~~~7—8--------|----7~~~~~~~~~~~6-------|
B------6~~~~~~~~6—6--------|----6~~~~~~~~~~~5-------|
G--------------------------|------------------------|
D--------------------------|------------------------|
A--------------------------|------------------------|
E--------------------------|------------------------|
Guitar 2:
Dm
E------1-----1-----1-----1-|----1-----1-----1-----1-|
B------3-----3-----3-----3-|----3-----3-----3-----3-|
G------2-----2-----2-----2-|----2-----2-----2-----2-|
D---0-----------0----------|-0-----------0----------|
A---------0-----------0----|-------0-----------0----|
E--------------------------|------------------------|
Both Guitars (1:45):
Dm C Em
E------1-----1-----1-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
B------3-----3-----3-------|----1-----1-----1-----0-|
G------2-----2-----2-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
D—--0-----------0----------|------------------------|
A---------0-----------0—-2-|-3-----------3-----2----|
E--------------------------|-------3----------------|
Am Dm slap
E------0-----0-----0-----0-|-1-----1-----1-----I----|
B------1-----1-----1-----1-|-3-----3-----3-----I----|
G------2-----2-----2-----2-|-2-----2-----2-----I----|
D---------------------2----|-0-----0-----0-----I----|
A---0-----0-----0----------|-------------------I----|
E--------------------------|-------------------I----|
Chorus (1:53):
Dm C Em
E------1-----1-----1-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
B------3-----3-----3-------|----1-----1-----1-----0-|
G------2-----2-----2-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
D—--0-----------0----------|------------------------|
A---------0-----------0—-2-|-3-----------3-----2----|
E--------------------------|-------3----------------|
Am Dm
E------0-----0-----0-----0-|----1-----1-----1-----1-|
B------1-----1-----1-----1-|----3-----3-----3-----3-|
G------2-----2-----2-----2-|----2-----2-----2-----2-|
D---------------------2----|-0-----------0----------|
A---0-----0-----0----------|-------0-----------0----|
E--------------------------|------------------------|
Dm C Em
E------1-----1-----1-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
B------3-----3-----3-------|----1-----1-----1-----0-|
G------2-----2-----2-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
D—--0-----------0----------|------------------------|
A---------0-----------0—-2-|-3-----------3-----2----|
E--------------------------|-------3----------------|
Am Dm
E------0-----0-----0-----0-|----1-----1-----1-----1-|
B------1-----1-----1-----1-|----3-----3-----3-----3-|
G------2-----2-----2-----2-|----2-----2-----2-----2-|
D---------------------2----|-0-----------0----------|
A---0-----0-----0----------|-------0-----------0----|
E--------------------------|------------------------|
Dm
E------1-----1-----1-----1-|----1-----1-----1-----1-|
B------3-----3-----3-----3-|----3-----3-----3-----3-|
G------2-----2-----2-----2-|----2-----2-----2-----2-|
D---0-----------0----------|-0-----------0----------|
A---------0-----------0----|-------0-----------0----|
E--------------------------|------------------------|
C Em Am
E------0-----0-----0-----0-|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
B------1-----1-----1-----0-|----1-----1-----1-----1-|
G------0-----0-----0-----0-|----2-----2-----2-----2-|
D—-------------------------|------------------------|
A---3-----------3-----2----|-0-----0-----0-----0----|
E---------3----------------|------------------------|
Verse 4 (2:18):
Dm C Em
E------1-----1-----1-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
B------3-----3-----3-------|----1-----1-----1-----0-|
G------2-----2-----2-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
D—--0-----------0----------|------------------------|
A---------0-----------0—-2-|-3-----------3-----2----|
E--------------------------|-------3----------------|
Am Dm
E------0-----0-----0-----0-|----1-----1-----1-----1-|
B------1-----1-----1-----1-|----3-----3-----3-----3-|
G------2-----2-----2-----2-|----2-----2-----2-----2-|
D---------------------2----|-0-----------0----------|
A---0-----0-----0----------|-------0-----------0----|
E--------------------------|------------------------|
Dm C Em
E------1-----1-----1-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
B------3-----3-----3-------|----1-----1-----1-----0-|
G------2-----2-----2-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
D—--0-----------0----------|------------------------|
A---------0-----------0—-2-|-3-----------3-----2----|
E--------------------------|-------3----------------|
Am Dm
E------0-----0-----0-----0-|-1-----1-----1----------|
B------1-----1-----1-----1-|-3-----3-----3----------|
G------2-----2-----2-----2-|-2-----2-----2-----2----|
D---------------------2----|-0-----0-----0-----0----|
A---0-----0-----0----------|------------------------|
E--------------------------|------------------------|
Chorus (2:34)
Dm C Em
E------1-----1-----1-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
B------3-----3-----3-------|----1-----1-----1-----0-|
G------2-----2-----2-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
D—--0-----------0----------|------------------------|
A---------0-----------0—-2-|-3-----------3-----2----|
E--------------------------|-------3----------------|
Am Dm
E------0-----0-----0-----0-|----1-----1-----1-----1-|
B------1-----1-----1-----1-|----3-----3-----3-----3-|
G------2-----2-----2-----2-|----2-----2-----2-----2-|
D---------------------2----|-0-----------0----------|
A---0-----0-----0----------|-------0-----------0----|
E--------------------------|------------------------|
Dm C Em
E------1-----1-----1-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
B------3-----3-----3-------|----1-----1-----1-----0-|
G------2-----2-----2-------|----0-----0-----0-----0-|
D—--0-----------0----------|------------------------|
A---------0-----------0—-2-|-3-----------3-----2----|
E--------------------------|-------3----------------|
Am Dm
E------0-----0-----0-----0-|----1-----1-----1-----1-|
B------1-----1-----1-----1-|----3-----3-----3-----3-|
G------2-----2-----2-----2-|----2-----2-----2-----2-|
D---------------------2----|-0-----------0----------|
A---0-----0-----0----------|-------0-----------0----|
E--------------------------|------------------------|
Dm
E------1-----1-----1-----1-|----1-----1-----1-----1-|
B------3-----3-----3-----3-|----3-----3-----3-----3-|
G------2-----2-----2-----2-|----2-----2-----2-----2-|
D---0-----------0----------|-0-----------0----------|
A---------0-----------0----|-------0-----------0----|
E--------------------------|------------------------|
One Guitar Only (2:55):
C Am Dm
E—----0-----|-----0-----|-----1-----|
B—----1-----|-----1-----|-----3-----|
G-----0-----|-----2-----|-----2-----|
D-----2-----|-----2-----|-----0-----|
A-----3-----|-----0-----|-----------|
E-----------|-----------|-----------|
Lyrics:
It was April 27th in the year of '91
'Bout a mile below the surface in the warm Kentucky sun
The late shift was ending and the early shift was late
And the foreman ate his dinner from a dirty tin plate
Blood on the tracks, blood in the mine
Brothers and sisters, what a terrible time (what a terrible time)
Ol' 97 went in the wrong hole
Now in mine #60 there's blood on the coal
(Blood on the coal)
(Blood on the coal)
Well the slag pits were steamin', it was 7:25
Every miner with a coal face, every one of them alive
The train came 'round the corner, you could hear the trestle growin'
But the switcher wasn't listenin' so he left the switch alone
Blood on the tracks, blood in the mine
Brothers and sisters, what a terrible time (what a terrible time)
Ol' 97 went in the wrong hole
Now in mine #60 there's blood on the coal
(Blood on the coal)
(Blood on the coal)
Well the walls began to tremble and the men began to yell
They could hear that lonesome whistle like an echo out of... well...
They dropped their picks and shovels as to safety they did run
For to stay amongst the living in the year of '91
Blood on the tracks, blood in the mine
Brothers and sisters, what a terrible time (what a terrible time)
Ol' 97 went in the wrong hole
Now in mine #60 there's blood on the coal
(Blood on the coal)
(Blood on the coal)
Now an Irishman named Murphy said "I'll stop that iron horse!"
As he stood athwart its passage and it crushed him dead of course
And I hope he hears the irony when e'er this tale is told
That the train that took his life was burnin' good Kentucky coal (hey!)
Blood on the tracks, blood in the mine
Brothers and sisters, what a terrible time (what a terrible time)
Ol' 97 went in the wrong hole
Now in mine #60 there's blood on the coal
(Blood on the coal)
(Blood on the coal)
