02 My Dad and Shrev Malone (03:51:59) (Featured Track)

My Dad and Shrev Malone

Dad became a father when he was just nineteen
Back when you had to be a man to face the things he’d seen
Work was hard to come by and bellies hard to fill
He went to diggin’ coal down in the mine at Brantleyville

On the battlefields of Europe, Shrev Malone had grown up fast
He worked with Daddy in the mine still haunted by his past
Rumor was he kept his gun when he came back from the war
Dad knew him as a quiet man; nobody knew much more.

If you want to live another day, two men you’ll leave alone:
Dad and Shrev Malone.

The miners called a wildcat strike but Daddy crossed their lines
He shoveled coal all by himself and he hauled it from the mine
Daddy knew he had to work, he knew no other way
Married with a child to feed, too many bills to pay.

Miners blew the tophouse, but Dad was not around
They said they’d kill my daddy if he went back in the ground.
‘If I don’t work this ol’ mine my family won’t be fed.’
The miners said ‘You move that coal, by morning you’ll be dead.’

'If you want to live another day, then leave that coal alone:'
Dad and Shrev Malone.

Daddy left the mine one night and there stood Shrev Malone
That Tommy gun was in his hand, and Daddy was alone.

But Shrev climbed in amongst the coal, sat down upon the load.
And said, ‘You drive; I’ll kill the man who stops you on the road.’

If you want to live another day, two men you’ll leave alone:
Dad and Shrev Malone.

(c) Jim Grubbs/Lowery Mill Music, ASCAP