Manganese Mine (Shawn Camp)

It was a big operation back during the war
Doss Hanger discovered the manganese ore
Sold the mineral rights for a few hundred bucks
Knew soon enough that he really screwed up

See, the company came and cut into the land
Tunnel mines first, then the big open pits
Flattened the land there three miles from Crimora
It was a big operation back during the war

Back in the Blue Ridge a long time ago
Back in those Blue Ridge hills

Doss Hanger, Doss Hanger, a mountaineer man
Owned treasures untold underneath mountain land
It haunted him until his own dying day
That he’d practically given a fortune away

Back in the Blue Ridge a long time ago
Back in those Blue Ridge hills

My father and grandfather worked underground
Digging the same ore that Doss Hanger found
They were hauling the ore off by railroad train
And to see that drove poor old Doss Hanger insane

Back in the Blue Ridge a long time ago
Back in those Blue Ridge hills

Doss Hanger, he picked up his old .45
In sad desperation he ended his life
While the men dug the ore from what once was his land
By the water they now call the Doss Hanger dam

Back in the Blue Ridge a long time ago
Back in those Blue Ridge hills