Readin`, Rightin`, Route 23 Lyrics

Readin`, Rightin`, Route 23

Readin', (Dwight Yoakam)

 

 Chorus:

 They learned readin', rightin', Route 23

 To the jobs that lay waiting in those cities' factories

 They didn't know that old highway

 Could lead them to a world of misery

 

 Have you ever been down Kentucky-way

 Say south of Prestonburg

 Have you ever been up in a holler

 Have you ever heard

 A mountain man cough his life away

 From diggin' that black coal in those dark mines, those dark mines

 If you had you might just understand

 The reason that they left is all behind

 

 Chorus:

 They learned readin', rightin', Route 23

 To the jobs that lay waiting in those cities' factories

 They learned readin', rightin', roads to the north

 To the luxury and comfort a coal line can't afford

 They thought readin', rightin', Route 23

 Would take them to the good life that they had never seen

 They didn't know that old highway

 Could lead them to a world of misery

 

 Have you ever seen 'em put the kids in the car after work on Friday night

 Pull up in a holler about 2 a.m. and see a light still shinin' bright

 Those mountain folks sat up that late

 Just to hold those little grandkids in their arms, in their arms

 And I'm proud to say that I've been blessed

 And touched by their sweet hillbilly charm

 

 Chorus:

 They learned readin', rightin', Route 23

 To the jobs that lay waiting in those cities' factories

 They learned readin', rightin', roads to the north

 To the luxury and comfort a coal line can't afford

 They thought readin', rightin', Route 23

 Would take them to the good life that they had never seen

 They didn't know that old highway

 Could lead them to a world of misery

 Yeah, it turns out that that old highway, leads you to a world of misery