Darrell Scott: You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive - Transatlantic Sessions

Darrell Scott sings You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive with Jerry Douglas and the other Transatlantic Sessions musicians. January 2011

[@sirderam1]

The Appalachian Mountains and the Caledonian Mountains here in Scotland were once one and the same mountain range - split apart when the Atlantic opened up. Not really surprising so many Scots felt at home and settled there. Perhaps the great collaberation in Transatlantic Sessions is bringing the mountains and their peoples together again - at least in spirit.

[@Tryingtofindmyway]

what a beautiful thing to remember, thank you for that.

[@debraguerrero6182]

As a proud Scots-Irish Kentuckian, thank you for mentioning this.

[@dagreatrandini5702]

Both brew hard working honest people 💪

[@JENSATFAR]

Well said, my friend ❤

[@maryjohammons8905]

Hello cousin! I love your sentiment ❤

[@utkub3492]

"And you spend your life digging coal from the bottom of your grave." Just amazing song.

[@NLT-pm4sq]

My papa left Letcher County after he got done serving in the Korean War and took a train north to Detroit City because he didn't want to work in the mines. People live tough lives in Eastern Kentucky.

[@kimberlyphillipssmith7956]

God bless this song. I grew up in the Muddy Holler of Ohio across the river from Wheeling WVa. I know every word of this song. It is in my soul. My family lived it in the 70's and still are.

[@danieljackson7971]

stuebenville

[@user-pq7ej9dw3l]

Just heard this song for the first time. Where have I been. Obviously out of the loop. If country music sounded like this every time, they'd be nothing to compete with it. Just fantastic.

[@wg4652]

Listen to Patty Loveless and Chris Stapleton version, pretty good as well

[@jwil9258]

Check out Brad Paisley singing it.

[@chrismiller3857]

This is country music as it should be. Soulful and honest. I rank Mr. Scott right up there with the great country singer/songwriters of all time. Hank, Townes, Willie, Kris, Merle. I still get chills every time I hear this song. One of my top 3 favorite country songs, along with "Sunday Morning Coming Down" and "Pancho & Lefty"

[@skinnerman100]

chris miller dead right man truly heart warming

[@danielmartine9146]

Let's not forget Johnny and John Prine

[@moeprofane1173]

too country for Country. He doesn't have tight jeans and a big floppy cowboy hat.

[@EnCasaDelHerrero]

That is a damn good top 3, man!

[@mistybrown338]

chris miller This ain’t country. It’s a mix of folk and bluegrass. Completely different genre.

[@rosemaryhill8804]

Binge watched Justified (again) last week! Best series ever!!!! Timothy Oliphant is amazing!!

[@5purnlad]

I am from the coal mining area of England. This song rings so true to me and mine. So many lost to accident and black lung etc. Now it is all gone and the litter blows in the streets among folk with no hope, thanks to politicians. I had the privilege to support Darrell and Tim O' Brien on one of their tours in the UK (at the Rock, Wentworth). Great people.

[@johndalessandro6433]

Wow! You should be a songwriter the way you expressed what it's like there! With just a couple sentences I can see it. I'm sorry it's like that there. It has hit us here in the states that have mines here also, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky and others. I see we all have the same generation of vipers we call politicians also. Meanwhile, the mining of kobalt is far more disastrous for the miners and the environment than coal. Also , when we dispose of the batteries of the electric vehicles and such, it will be horrendous. And these politicians face foward yelling for clean environment and with thier hand behind thier back, they have thier hand open to recieve the envelope from the Kobalt mining companies . But, I believe in the End, every knee shall bow to the LORD. and they will have no where to hide, no one will be able to cover up thier deeds.

[@rickcauthen9930]

All of those fools thought the gold was on the west coast its still right there in those breathtaking Appalachian mountains thank you my wise talented friends i needed this

[@maxwellfan55]

A Masterpiece of songwriting and a performance to match it. This arrangement remains unsurpassed.

[@Pauly421]

Yeah my favourite version for sure the musicians are top notch

[@p.c.6561]

Just when you think nashville is beyond recovery you hear a darrell scott song and everything is good again.

[@TheNashvilleTrail]

In Southwest Virginia the mountains are high and in the bottoms the sun doesn't shine until about 10;00 AM. Same with the afternoon - the sun sets early. Usually the town lays along the bottom where there is a road, a river, and a railroad on the other side. All are in the floodplain.

[@whozis2]

I grew up in a small mining town in Floyd County, in the vicinity of Harlan. This song really resonates with me. My father was a coal miner who developed black lung. After the local mines closed, times got really hard really fast. My dad ran around with women, my parents separated and my mother took us to northern Ohio where she worked in a factory. The whole time we were gone, I missed my beloved hills of eastern Kentucky. It feels like it is in the DNA! After 2-1/2 years, he lured my mother back to eastern Kentucky, to a small mining town near the one where I was born and spent my early years. He divorced her, and times got hard again. I am from a family of eight siblings, and love ran deep for one another and for our beloved hills. It is a hard-scrabble area, the sun does come up about 10:00 AM and goes down, depending on where your house is situated, anywhere from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. Now, to flat-landers, this sounds strange. There is light before and after those hours, but no direct sunlight except during those hours. Six of my siblings have passed on, and I still love my beloved eastern Kentucky, and its hills. There are a lot of good people there who work hard making a living. They learn to make do with little and are often happy just to have clothes on their backs, a roof over their heads, and food on the table. Many are God-fearing, salt of the earth people. Others are ornery and you don't want to cross them. That's just the way it is.

[@charliecollier8553]

South Central Virginia man here. I just visited Harlan for the first time in my life today. Absolutely loved it. Met a lot of people who were my kind of people. God bless you brother.

[@Last_one_before_I_go]

Whozis2, your post was a great read. I can relate, not because I'm from there, but because of the times and hardships in rural life - but still, an experience to be had because it helps shape us.

[@sofloshaund6884]

It's a sad day in Floyd Co. Mr. jones !!!! Love your comment !!! I know , I know , I know just what ya mean ! Never moved with the flatlanders thou lol ... I was Raised in Magoffin Co. , went to work in coal at 19 , moved to Harlen somewhere between the deep mines and working on a highwall miner and now at 40 , I'm in Southern Florida ! "Who said we'd never leave Harlen alive" !!!!!

[@glassncobalt]

Nicely stated.

[@whozis2]

@Jami Hensley , I was from Floyd County, a little mining town called Drift. Nice to meet you! I am in Greenup County, now.

[@beckyhopkins1372]

I live in Eastern Kentucky and this song is so true. Cold dark place in the winter.

[@amandalamb5724]

Live in south central Kentucky (Madison County)...my family lives in Rockcastle and Jackson County...it's a hard life in the hills for sure.

[@errk25]

One of my favorite Darrell Scott songs. Then put it in a Transatlantic Sessions arrangement and makes is even more amazing!

[@taaaaaaaazzzzzz]

i had a really intense Addiction to townes van zandt, which was my last deep Dive in Country music, but now i am About to dive deep again in every song this man called darrell scott has written. Really stunning.

[@TheJohnmurphy123]

I was blown away by this song ,and blown away even more when I discovered one of the musicians in the clip is an Irish man and as I'm also an Irish man it just makes it a little more special

[@user-hb8lo6cq4p]

Vocal perfection backed by perfect collection of musicians

[@nicolasdelaforge7420]

Darrell, Iris and Gretchen Peters have kept the golden age of country/ folk going beneath the noise of country/ pop -

[@manzourwilfriedakannibouss900]

This is pure and genuine ART

[@willybachmaier]

this hits just differently. tahnk you for your work everybody. thank you. everybody on top

[@micky44music]

I had the privilege of shaking this mans hand at cambridge folk fest total respect ill never forget that day : ))

[@neilmilburn5149]

That voice, those lyrics, those musicians. Holy shit.

[@GBeret83]

I lived in Harlan County, Ky. for nearly 4 years, and while I met and fondly remember a number of good people there, the place itself is a total hell hole, trust me. Sadly, I have an adult daughter who still lives there that's into drugs and the wrong crowd, and I fear every day she'll never leave Harlan alive.

[@maxmcgloin]

I hope she found her way out.

[@matthirn7858]

Beautifully written and performed. I frequently come back here for another listen.

[@user-tk5cw2my5q]

Atlantic Sessions another amazing song

[@vtshagnasty]

Interesting. I did not know that, but, it may explain why My wife and I felt so comfortable and familiar when we visited Scotland last spring. Especially the region around Inverness. What a beautiful place. Had to have been hard for my ancestors to leave it.

[@drewbow1357]

Darrell Scott has one soulful voice

[@diggerdogadventures976]

Check out the album he did with Tim OBrien. Real Time. It's amazing.

[@maupie2008]

I can't listen to this without crying. So dark, so stirring.

[@lincolnmiller3753]

Me too

[@thenashus4]

he is the most authentic and original artist today.

[@rahang4126]

+Nash Lawrence together with Brandi Carlile

[@masonmullen7167]

Check out Corb Lund and Hayes Carll

[@macbuff81]

I just binch watched the entire show "Justified." I really liked it. A great story arc with complex characters. I grew up in Virginia and always was drawn towards the Appalachian mountains. I often traveled to West Virginia and I really enjoyed the rolling mountains

[@themagstetrcat]

I feel I just got some kind of blessing listening to this group sing and play..Ahh Jerry Douglas you have my heart xxx

[@robertoaguirre8906]

The lyrics and music evoke the the hopelessness and despair brought on by working hard for little pay and never making any progress in life.

[@noahfanzerbutz3510]

Incredible. What a song, and a great version.

[@brandonhamby5828]

My family is from pike county ky alot of my kin worked in harlan ky and pikeville ky and Wise WV digging coal out of them hills. we lived in dortan ky. my mom and grandma got us boys outa there when my dad got his approval to go under the mountain. Moved us up to Florence KY where work was in factory rather than 3000 feet under the mountain but for alot of us those mountains keep calling us home and it's hard to resist. The beautiful view of the Appalachian mountains are forever freeing and calling me back but I promise my mom I'd never go to digging coal but damn it's hard I want to go home but coal is the only way to survive there. It like ky is a black hole you can never escape even if you get away you'll be back you'll never leave KY alive. If ur born or grew up here 9 times out of 10 you'll die here. I've left 3 times and always end up coming back I'll probably never get out but not for lack of trying.

[@XxDeineOmmaxX]

What an epic version of this song

[@MirrjamE]

This is from Transatlantic Sessions Vol 3. This session includes artists like Tim O'Brien, Bruce Molsky, Iris Dement, Paul Brady, Eddi Reader, Julie Fowlis and many more. I have listened to all 5 DVDs over and over again and # 3 is absolutely the best. All of them are still for sale, except Vol 2 as CD - I think.

[@moragmacgregor6792]

There but for the grace of God. I grew up in Saline County, Arkansas where the aluminum companies have been strip-mining ore (bauxite) for close to 100 years. The conditions in the early days weren't good but the workers had it pretty sweet compared to the coal miners. I was living in oil-rich Northeast Louisiana as an adult when a geologist's son asked me about the mineral rights. "Who got the money? There must have been a lot of rich folks all of a sudden." It had never even crossed my mind: how did all that bauxite come to be owned outright by Alcoa and Reynolds? Oh my God. My _parents_ didn't know. Everything happened before their first buggy-ride to the church house. Maybe the State sold the land for a few pennies and a kickback. No one complained. Ever. Practically every daddy in town worked "at the plant." The two companies supported my home town.

[@whozis2]

In eastern Kentucky where I was from, people from outside the area came in and bought the mineral rights for a few dollars. Later, when coal was being mined, some tried to claim it but the courts upheld the contracts that had been signed for a pittance. To compound the travesty, a "coal severance tax" was levied on the coal with the promise that much of that money would flow back to eastern Kentucky for development, to establish roads and businesses. The politicians in Frankfort spent most of it in central and western Kentucky. My county of Floyd saw very little trickle back in. Twice our people were disadvantaged by people from other places who did not care about us.

[@moragmacgregor6792]

@@whozis2 I'm so sorry. Arkansas certainly saw its share of that kind of politics...as recently as the 90's in my opinion. It was a different situation but a couple of politicians really got rich...wealthy, even. And some people are dead. It seems there is always some rich dynasty willing to jump in and take advantage of poor people who _really_ need the money.

[@GABagpiper]

Great version, being an Appalacian American with KY roots this tune hits home. The mix of artists reall shows the links between Scots, Irish and American music. I play bagpipes, whistles, banjo and guitar this music is super.

[@mcdormaj]

I sing this to my daughters before bed each night, one of their favorites.

[@billyball9390]

It doesn’t get any better! Thanks Darrell Scott, Karen Mathewson and band. I think the dobro player is the great Jerry Douglas. Great song and arrangement. Bluegrass music is one of a very few music genres that’s gotten better over the years. I love the soulful fiddle. Thanks All !

[@hamfox6523]

In the mountains of northeast Tennessee we always envied the coal miners. You don’t get sun in these hollers until 10:00+ in the morning either, but we had no coal mines to make a living in. Nothing there but shale , desperation, pride and love of the locals. Outsiders were never fully trusted and never will be.

[@victorcaron6162]

This should have a billion views

[@wentworthcaniac]

Karen Matheson adds a golden touch to every song she performs on.

[@randyphelps3041]

great stuff... flux is money on this kind of song... I lived in Beattyville for a time and this song captures the soul of the place... doom and determination and the ability to take what comes and keep breathing...

[@freedomhasaprice9946]

Thank you Darrell Scott for this song and many others. Much appreciated seeing you in Cincinnati a few years ago. You created a great warm atmosphere and lil things like the Q & A session, your wife selling merch and all were so cool. Hope things open up this year and we can see you at an outdoor festival !! This is such a WONDERFUL version of the #1 song I listen to when I feel the need to get more grounded.

[@IIVVBlues]

Don't know how many times I've listened to this over the years, but it seems better every time. What a song!

[@FOLKUST-mc5xo]

Thanks for making this song we love it

[@MyMoppet52]

Fantastic video! I didn't realize that the Transatlantic Sessions were an ongoing show. This opens up new roads for me to find more great music. I love every Session song I've heard...and I can't say that about anything else! The music is incomparable and the videos are so well done. Jerry Douglas is a master and it really shows in these videos. Thank you so much!!!

[@angiepeace5944]

Just lookin at him, reminds us of how many did get away, to make an easier living for their family’s Much respect for all

[@eugenemalush9284]

Just gorgeous, from Pittsburgh, PA

[@jwgbmp40]

Great song, great story of my ancestors as well.

[@brownstonecustomcabinetry5309]

The very definition of Soul Music!

[@Craftycockney251]

Another outstanding transatlantic session! Wow!

[@MihajloB]

My favorite songs for some time.

[@patrileys]

MERRY CHRISTMAS YAWL - I'm brand new to Darrell Scott and he's sure a gift and present to the world. His music is got me drinking .... Wow! Talented! Island Mountain Pat PeAcE

[@willybachmaier]

thanks sir man, u doing good, i never met nicer poeple, i love all transatlantic session, keep doing what u do thanks sir

[@kevinpowers6194]

My 4th GG originally from Virginia, served under Col George Rogers Clark in the Revolution. After the war, he settled in Harlan Co. In 1795 him and his family pioneered Illinois territory present day Jackson Co where family still resides.

[@badtux]

What a wonderful version of his song.

[@joaovictorandrade5720]

In the deep, dark hills of eastern Kentucky That's the place where I trace my bloodline And it's there I read on a hillside gravestone "You will never leave Harlan alive" Well my grandad's dad walked down Katahrin's Mountain And he asked Tillie Helton to be his bride He said, "Won't you walk with me out of the mouth of this holler Or we'll never leave Harlan alive" Where the sun comes up about ten in the morning And the sun goes down about three in the day And you fill your cup with whatever bitter brew your drinking And you spend your life just thinking how to get away No one ever knew there was coal in them mountains Til a man from the northeast arrived Waving hundred dollar bills, he said "I'll pay you for your minerals" But he never left Harlan alive Well Granny, she sold out cheap and they moved out west to Pineville To a farm where Big Richland River winds And I'll bet they danced them a jig, and they laughed and sang a new song "Who said we'd never leave Harlan alive?" But the times, they got hard and tobacco wasn't selling And old Granddad knew what he'd do to survive He went and dug for Harlan coal and sent the money back to Granny But he never left Harlan alive

[@wrightackle1]

I'll swear there was a better version than 360p on YT. But I'll take it anyway thank you very much. I revisit this every once in a while. This song punches you in the gut.

[@1946nimrod]

Time for a rerun of the Transatlantic Sessions. Aly Bain remains a treasure.

[@teresamariemartin3144]

GroverDoctor77 heads up kid! I lived in Harlan.... the mountains are soooo tall the sun shines late as it tops up over the mountain and about 3 p.m. it's shaded again. Moonshine has nothing to do with the song. Just the fact the mountains are that high. So now you know.

[@GrooveDoctor77Musician]

Teresa Marie Martin that's a nice explanation ....of the topography of those mountains ,but I really know the Appalachian mountains pretty well,. its the song ,that has the story of life, death ,sorrow, mining coal ,moonshine ,even the time the sun goes up & down( Ive heard a lot about) ,.. I really like, the song & lyrics its a classic song with a great story , , its been recorded by Brad Paisley, Patti Loveless, & others its popular in Ireland Europe,.. Darrell Scott really wrote a great song about life in Appalachia...

[@fleckx]

In NPR's interview "Wayne and Darrell Scott", about 29 minutes and 40 seconds in they discuss the history of this song.

[@nomdeplume4030]

What an absolutely incredible song!

[@theflash1952shodan]

This is the best rendition i've heard him do of this song. It motivated me to cover it in my own acoustic shows.

[@jeffstanton5526]

86 fools didn't like this beauty of a song. I pity you.

[@sawbilly2]

This is one of the best songs ever written!

[@ih1955]

Never heard of this guy before, but he's great! Discovered him thanks to a friend of mine. Now on my favourites list. Thanks for uploading MLIN20.

[@bobkmac]

Never heard this song or watch justified (even though I live in the foothills) until I saw you at Willies a couple of months ago. Great performance, great show, and great song. Thank you!

[@keithstidham5500]

this guy is amazing

[@MalhamScousers]

Stunning. Highlight of this album which is saying something. Saw these sessions live lately. Easily one of the best gigs I've ever been to.

[@venician2face]

Wow, I love this song. Darrell and Jerry and the other members of this group are fabulous.

[@MrHillbilly49]

It seems like I heard this song in an episode of "Justified" and if they didn't use it they SHOULD have. This is a great tune with fantastic lyrics, melody and the musicians are spectacular. These are a lot of really big words for a hillbilly like me but they are the truth none the less.

[@flagal519]

Love this song....Justified was a great show, wasn't it? I never missed an episode...wish they would bring it back. There is no reason they couldn't because Raylan was alive in the end.

[@MrJneesy]

they used a different version at the end of the last episode of each season

[@VivaLaDnDLogs]

Featured Darrel's original version in the last episode.

[@silkpursemaker]

Just discovered 'Justified'. And I've been binge-watching BIG TIME! Great song too!

[@Bluegeek1]

outrageously good......best stuff I've heard in many a long day. bravo singers and players, bravo

[@andynevans9269]

This is the best version as the quality of the artists is immense

[@EleanorRealOne]

Wow I love this so much..immediately click. What a gorgeous sound.

[@kerryg100]

Top notch from da man himself who wrote the song.....singing with the incredible Karen..... Greetings from IRELAND 😉 salamat for this gem. ...we love a good sad song here.....

[@mistybrown338]

Kerry, we here in the hills of Kentucky are strongly influenced by our Irish roots. I’m 15% Irish myself. Believe me, you can hear it in our music and the way we speak.

[@footprint09]

Marvellous!

[@smpfimac]

It was the song that led me to pick up an acoustic..... Thanks Darrell

[@rosemaryhill8804]

Warning! This is an ear worm song! LOL. Took days to not have it in my mind. Haunting, beautiful!

[@A01B0sh1]

Such a beautiful song. A couple of big names in the video, Jerry Douglas and Aly Bains.

[@drewpackman2929]

Having spent a few weeks in the area and exploring. I have wondered how Elmore Leonard got his knowledge of the area For the novels he wrote. We just returned from a week there 9/22 and will be back. Each time we discover more that is fascinating.

[@mauryrosenbergsmusicchanne743]

Darrell...cool video and great sounding group. Love the accordion but mostly love that you keep plowing forward. May 2017 be a wonderful year for you brother, your friends, your family and fans. Peace..Maury Rosenberg

[@kakenetit2]

Wonderful talent.

[@MrBadMonkey63]

wow! what a story to be told in music. alot of my relatives are in West Virginia and most lived short lives there thanks to the coal mines and black lung

[@MrJonnus]

I've never been a fan of this genre of music, but this blew me away when I saw it on BBC4. Thanks for sharing :)

[@colinhutch9445]

Superb song and great musicians... Love the dynamics

[@philciciliani6660]

this is outstanding

[@beckyevepete]

oh yea! that's Jerry Darrell Scott is amazing!

[@MoonBearBush]

"Justified" one of the best series on T.V also this man is one metric fuck ton of soul and earthiness.

[@strikeanywhere2981]

There are so, so many ignorant people in this world. I don't live in the mountains, but I have visited there. In Harlan and other "hollars" the people live in deep valleys. The foothills/mountains are high, and by the time the sun peaks over the mountains in these steep valleys, it's about 10am, literally. It has nothing to do with moonshine, drug use, or working in the mines. Please, please lose the stereotypes -- the deck is stacked against these folks enough as it is.

[@amysmith1582]

Believe me when I say I have lived this all my life this my home and I have lost my dad to black lung and my step father was killed in the mines. its a hard way of life but its our way of life and most of our boys goes straight from school and crawl into the deep dark pits of the mines its a hard life and yes their is moonshining its our way and we are proud of our mountains and all who live in them we still believe in helping our neighbors and when times get ruff we stand together its not easy but we love our way of life

[@amysmith1582]

Our County just lost another young man to the mines just a few days ago he was gone before he even started his life..

[@GrooveDoctor77Musician]

amy smith Im sorry To hear That...

[@Green4U2781]

Strikeanywhere2981 yes sir, agree 100%

[@amysmith1582]

thank you

[@DeckApe12345]

Awesome vocals.... Great song...

[@MrPreston56]

love this!! : )

[@2299jsimon]

Some of my folks left Harlan about the turn of the last century and came to Texas. They were tough folks cause Texas was still pretty wild. My great granddaddy toted a 32-40 in a 45 frame on his hip.

[@footlongpennyclub]

I listen over and over again.. its great!

[@blissbaker4366]

love this

[@ridingstuffed]

So good!

[@MikaelJHacken]

Mesmerizing... So talented !!!

[@bullseye45419]

Wonderful ... simply touching and beautiful.