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I think of all the crappy pop music that has been blanketed over the airwaves of this country for so long and how disappointing and insulting that is. And I hear this woman's voice and words rendering the truth and history of working people's lives and it's hard not to break down at the shear honesty, soulfulness of it. This is such a beautiful and courageous tribute to her brother and all working people. She was an absolute treasure.

Sarah is my Great-Grandmother

FIRE🔥🔥🔥

Gave me such chills. Capitalism has got to go.

maybe a lot of the drug problems are with the school. All I ever heard in school was how bad drugs are for you. But the first time a kid doesn`t want to listen or sit still for a couple of hours. They give him some initials and put him on a bunch of drugs !!

Wow! I discovered Hazel Dickens several years ago while researching to write my play, Interstate 81, set in rural Virginia in 1972. She and her music is part of the soundtrack for my characters, and her music is etched into my heart and mind.

My granddaddy was a coal miner. The workers have nothing to lose but their chains. ☭

😢

I love the south

Has anyone in that area ever once considered the politicians they vote for? A Dixiecrat or Republican that gives 2- dumps less about their poor ass? For right now while you can still write in a candidate on election day can't you? If not though, on the upside for us, we will get to hear more of this music of suffering in the next century.

I’m from Harlan County, KY and her music in Harlan County U.S.A. inspired me so much growing up while seeing the coal industry die out in the area. The working men and women of Appalachia were a true gem that will forever drive me.

All the way from San Francisco.... God bless Hazel 💪🇺🇸💪

I love West Virginia. But I love Jesus MUCH MORE! Pass It On When I hitch hiked cross country I was fortunate to pass through West Virginia. West Virginia is beautiful to look upon. The rolling hills are covered with lush green trees. It’s majesty in scenery is second only to Idaho, but a close second. They tell me in winter the hills are barren and ugly because of the strip mining. The people, however, are the nicest I’ve found anywhere. They are friendly and kind, even to strangers like me who talk funny. The West Virginia accent is thick like pea soup. It’s is half way between talking and singing. I walked a great deal in West Virginia. Up and down hills the road curved with twists and bends. I walked through towns which took all of two minutes to traverse. There was no other place where drivers were quicker to pick up a stranger like me. It was a hot June day that found me with my thumb extended. A pick up truck slowed down and pulled over a short distance ahead of me. I clutched my orange back pack and trotted to the vehicle. I jumped in the back happy. Hitch hiking is an exhilarating experience. I compare it to fishing. You never know when you’ll get a bite. The truck speeded onto the highway. Sitting in the front was an old woman with two young boys. The women slid open a small glass window in the back of the cab enabling us to talk. “Hello,” she said. “Hello and God bless you,” I replied. Soon the conversation flowed back and forth. “Where are you going?” “Alaska, God willing.” “Where are you from?” “I’m from New Jersey which is close to New York City.” We continued to talk as we drove. Soon the woman pulled the truck over. “John,” she said, “now that we know you are no threat to us, you can ride with us in the front.” I promptly jumped out of the back and entered the cab. I sat in the middle with the woman on my left and the two boys on the right. We drove a little while longer when the tone of conversation got serious. “You see these two boys,” she said motioning with her hand towards the youngsters. “Their parents just died. My husband and I took them in but the farm burned down and we’ve got nothing left. Then my husband died too.” The news hit me like a wave pounding on a beach. I sat silently stunned. Then the woman pulled into a Roy Rogers. She went to the drive through and ordered three sandwiches. When she picked them up from the window she handed one to each boy and the last one to me. I was surprised. “John” she said. (Whenever she spoke my name it was as if she was talking to an intimate friend.) “I don’t have enough money to buy more. I know you don’t have much money. But I want you to eat. So I gave you my sandwich.” I ate the sandwich with a thankful heart as we drove on. Soon she pulled over to an exit. “Boys, do you want to take John further?” she asked. “Yes!!!” the two boys cried excited with glee. “John” said the woman once more. “This is our exit but it’s not a good place to hitch another ride. So we’re gonna take you to the next one. You’ll be able to get a ride there easier.” So we drove on. In West Virginia exits are not like they are in New Jersey. In Jersey there are exits every couple of miles. This kind woman drove me over twenty miles to the next exit. I exited from the truck and by the driver’s side window to say good bye to this generous soul. But the woman who had already provided me with so much gave once more. “John,” she said. “I know you’re searching for the words to thank me. Just take the love I’ve given you and pass it on. If you do one day, it’ll go all around the world and one day it will return to you.” Then she drove me away. I can’t remember her name but I’ll never forget her.

Hazel was my great great aunt and this song was about my great grandfather....I wish I could have met her. Now I know where I get my love for music come from.

Love Hazel. Beautiful.

It's crazy that people still defend the coal companies

All of them are rolling in their graves knowing that West Virginia voted for someone like Donald Trump, a union buster hell bent on keeping the poor, poor and lining his damn pockets. When I watch Harlan County I shake my head at all of the sheep manipulated by stories of money and solid work, an old tactic. Wake the fuck up y'all. WV has been exploited time and time again for it's natural resources, and what did they leave behind when the coal mine dried up?

Daddy died a poor factory man in Tennessee. Song still gets to me.

Fuck the rich. Eat the rich. We cannot allow the rich to continue to get rich on the backs of the regular people.

My family all came from these mines. I could play this for all them as a lesson, but they're all Trumpy people that seem to have forgotten about the struggles of generations past.

My granddaddy used to cough up a handful of black pleghm all the time. Eventually it killed him.

Here's another :Hard to Tell the Singer... soundcloud.com/hillipsand/hard-to-tell-the-singer-from-the-song

my grandpas worked the mines in WV. Where my father grew up in those hills was demolished and stripped. Just about everyone who worked those mines came out worse at the end. I can't imagine for the life of me why people in 2019 are still working to support the mining companies.

Thats punk as fuck I want to talk to this women one day.

They need our support im from florida but I love these men they worked hard give them what they deserve please

These men worked to power our nation we need to regenerate lungs please these working men are golden they worked there whole lives to power this nation.

most died of the black lung These folk need love they powered our nation.

PURE MAGIC

Thank you, Hazel. And thank you, Mimi, for making this so we can continue to share in Hazel's gift.

Peice of perfection rest in paradise fallen soldiers 🙏

Lee doran black lungs

This woman was and is amazing. Amazing songwriter, amazing advocate, AMAZING

I'm from Man WV in Logan County (Buffalo Creek). My father, both grandfathers, and great grandfathers all had black lung. I was a strip miner before I moved to Florida in 91 so luckily I was spared this disease. it contributed to all their deaths. And that's no way to go for good men like them (or frankly anyone) to go. I saw the flood in February of 72 that was caused by Pittston coal company. 125 people died that morning on Buffalo Creek. Sad sad day.

My great grandfather was a miner and an Italian immigrant. He passed away suffering from black lung. He told us of the company store.

Rest in peace, Hazel!!!!!!!!!! Great song.

Ralph Stanley just passed today. Got me thinking of Hazel. Two kindred souls. Bless them in Heaven.

I wish Appalshop were streaming. I don't have the money for all those DVDs, and the few programs I've seen on TV have since been replaced with horribly-urban 90s sitcoms.

She sure was a great one , one of the earliest pioneers of social protest from Appalachia.

folks might want to read about a coal miners strike in the winter in Colorado. This was in the 1920-30 and the USA Gov. had the miners surrounded by US Army troops and many families and miners were machined gun to death. Not sure of the name of the book. Another book about miners and strikes is titled , "Bloody Williamson", about the strike in southern Illinois

thank you

I'm a coal miner's daughter and live in Russell County,VA .I remember the strike of 1989. My whole senior class walked out for a day in support of the U.M.W.A . We all felt like we had to do something to show we was being affected too . Now just about all the mines around here have been shut down. Hazels songs tells the truth of the coal miners and their families.

I'm a coal miners daughter and live in Russell County,VA .I remember the strike of 1989. My whole senior class walked out for a day in support of the U.M.W.A . We all felt like we had to do something to show we was being affected too . Now just about all the mines around here have been shut down. Hazels songs tells the truth of the coal miners and their families.

A good woman is gone. Miss her voice so much.

I first heard Hazel Dickens voice in 2008 in the amazing documentary Harlan County (1976). I was extremely moved by her voice (an understatement) and still am. I choke up every single time. If you haven't seen Harlan County PLEASE DO.

My grandfather worked in the mines since he was 9. He had black lung so bad he could hardly breath

Love and Miss Hazel. We need Hazel today.. She's my favorite Liberal

i always cry when i hear this song

I lost my uncle Bill to black lung down in W Va

If you haven't heard Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard, you're missing a great treat!

BLAIR MOUNTAIN,HAZEL DICKENS, CONCERT,CHARLESTON WV, 2011