They Don't Dig For Coal Here Anymore-Alan Cathead Johnston

[adjrean57]

This song resonates for me. My home town is also a memory. The street I grew up on

doesn't even exist anymore. 5 by 2 blocks of homes torn down to make way for casinos,

recreated as another LasVegas.

What a talented guy, to write and play and film the song. I like the syncopated beat.

Please put your name up top along with the title of the song.

Hope you post alot more music.

[cathead77]

@adjrean57 Thank you for the encouragement.

[truckman5402]

i was born in lochgelly in 1956 my father,his father and his father were hard working w va coal miners thans for posting this. Dennis Scott

[cathead77]

@truckman5402 Thanks for watching.

[chsdancemom38]

This is gonna be all of west virginia If the EPA gets their way

[cathead77]

@chsdancemom38 Thanks for watching.

[never1time]

My old town mined coal and had an population of several thousand. But they stopped and there is only a little of 67 remaining.

[cathead77]

@never1time Thanks for watching...

[edrambo51]

I have worked in strip mining for 35 years & I have never seen a town buried under a valley fill HORNHost, get your facts straight or don't post!!!!

[HORNHost]

And in some cases, the towns aren't even there anymore, buried for all time under a valley fill.

[cathead77]

@HORNHost Thank you for watching.

[margatelad]

Iworked at tillmanstone colliery in kent uk from 71/86 with a job for life.BUTskargill and maggie put a stop to that,scargill knew he could not win, all he wanted was mmaggies head on a plate he did not care fore us he lied acheated and stole from us.and killed the coal in brittian thank you mr sckargill

[cathead77]

@margatelad Thanks for watching.

[Chris231MCF]

well coal is king in West Virginia still it produces the electric in this state also only job that pays enough to raise your kids put food on table

[bassthumper77]

@Chris231MCF That is true, but......they still don't dig for coal HERE (the town that inspired the song) any more :-) Thanks for watching.

[migitpoo]

I liked the video and song to. Im a proud daughter of a coal miner that walks with the Lord now. I live in a coalcamp town with my hubby who also is a proud son of a coal miner as well, thanks for sharing and showing some of the history of our state, the most beautiful state ever.

[bassthumper77]

@migitpoo Thank you very much.

[peggybrks]

thanks sooo much for ur song/video grt song & the video shows an important time in our history!!!!! realllly enjoyed GOD BLESS!!!

[cathead77]

@peggybrks Thank you.

[TheSonglvr]

Obama promised to shut them down. And still they voted for him. So sad.

[cathead77]

@TheSonglvr 'Cept I didn't :-)

[a2zhandi]

great tune.

[cathead77]

@a2zhandi Thank you.

[cathead77]

Well, they don't "bomb" for it in the little town that inspired the song. Thanks for watching :-)

[solkacorot]

I love your life brother .that song is awesome. thank you.

[cathead77]

@solkacorot Thank you for those encouraging words.

[kenatlaw]

Homer Hickam and his books have been an inspiration to me. He is a great man.

[cathead77]

@kenatlaw No doubt.....

[ScottLanter]

Thank you for the photos and the great job singing, too. I will show your video to my mother, who is originally from Coalwood. She moved to southern Ohio when she was 7, but has very fond memories of her hometown. I know she will like this video. We are planning to visit Coalwood sometime this summer or early Fall. The last time we were there was 35 years ago. We are looking forward to hearing her share her memories with us again. Thanks again for this video, sir.

[cathead77]

@ScottLanter Thank you very much for watching. I truly hope your mother enjoys the video.

[DocFreeman115]

is the town a certain place or is it in general?

[cathead77]

@DocFreeman115 The town of Coalwood, WV inspired the song. About all of the pictures in the video are of that town which is about 7 miles from where I live. When I wrote the song I used Coalwood as my reference and inspiration. Thanks for watching.

[MrWetlook1995]

Awesome song! Great job!

[cathead77]

@MrWetlook1995 Thank you very much.

[DocFreeman115]

perfect this is the song i need for my video because this song is just grate and heart warming the best song i herd in a long time

[cathead77]

@DocFreeman115 Thank you.

[roadragebytch]

AWESOME, THANK YOU FOR SHARING!

[cathead77]

@roadragebytch Thank you.

[voodoo4uonly]

OMG!!! THIS BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES!!! I GREW UP IN COALWOOD WV AND REMEMBER THE CLUBHOUSE, THE COALWOOD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, CO STORE N EVERYTHING HERE!!! MY GRANDFATHER LOST HIS LIFE IN THE MINE THERE IN COALWOOD JUST UP FROM THAT GAS STATION WHEN MY MOTHER WAS ONLY 9 MTHS OLD!!! I LOVED GROWING UP THERE BUT IT IS BUT A SHELL OF WHAT IT USE TO BE!!! THE SCHOOL IS A SHELL THAT HAS ALL BUT BURNT TO THE GROUND ONLY AFTER BEING CLOSED FOR MANY YEARS!!! MEMORIES MEMORIES MEMORIES!!! SO SAD!

[cathead77]

@voodoo4uonly Thanks for watching.

[trainlover479]

society is never going to be the same, all these mines gone, railroad lines riped up, steam locomotives scraped......the old photos bring back the memories of both Classic Coal mining of West Virginia and the Golden Age of Steam Railroading on the Norfolk and Western Railroad. Thank you for posting

[cathead77]

@trainlover479 Thank you for watching...

[WvWooldridge]

Gary, Wv will always be my hometown but I'll never live there again. It's not the same.

[jennyky7]

This is a great song. My husband works in the coal mines here in Kentucky where we live. My father also worked in the coal mines until a huge rock fell on him and hurt his back and neck badly. My grandfathers also worked in the coal mines. I have much respect for the men and woman that risk their lives to dig coal so that we have electricity!

[cathead77]

@jennyky7 Thanks for watching. My daddy and brother were miners. One of my sons-in law is now.

[Godjsir1]

Wow! Wow! Wow! What an absolutely beautiful and haunting song. So fitting for my surrounding area of southwestern Virginia where I live. I can't thank you enough for putting the visuals along with your captivating voice and song on YouTube. Thank you so much for sharing this. I've linked this to several forums in my area so other's may also enjoy your personal insight into the times of living life in the coal camps.

[cathead77]

@Godjsir1 You are so kind and encouraging to me. Thank you for watching and for the links. I appreciate your comments more than just a little bit.

[Godjsir1]

@Godjsir1 A community theater of local actors will be performing a play, "Clinchco, the Day After Payday" the first two weekends in October. The play is about a family which is struggling to hold on to their company owned house after Clinchfield Coal Company is closing down and moving out. It's about the former heyday of the local coal camps and the people who made up the community. Your songs and photos are so fitting of that time. Wish you could be here to sing these as the play opens.......

[cathead77]

@Godjsir1 Thank you so much for listening.

[TheYankster1]

I was born and raised in Coalwood. This video brings back a lot of memories...

[cathead77]

@TheYankster1 Thanks for watching.

[IAmPistonHondo]

i live in welch and my aunt lives in coalwood my cousin lives in oceana and my grandma lives in pinville anyway *whaaaaaaaaaaa*

[cathead77]

@IAmPistonHondo Thanks for stopping by.

[cogermax91]

very good video and song !bravooooooooo

[cathead77]

@cogermax91 Thanks so much.

[rosetta2091]

i love this song and video,my papaw and my dad worked in the coal mines,and now my son is working in one ,he started when he was 19 and he is 21 now and im so proud of him for (keeping on digging coal)

[cathead77]

@rosetta2091 Thanks. I'm glad you like it.

[6871dave]

wv miners dont just dig coal thay rock lol you should be on cmt !! love your work ty lol !!!

[6871dave]

good job love your song !!!

[cathead77]

@6871dave Thank you.

[t74961971]

where are these pictures taken??? I am from WV. I lived in WEbster County.. I love the photos...

[cathead77]

@t74961971 Most of the pictures were taken in Coalwood, WV. Thank you for watching.

[hueol]

yep.

this song is true travel deep in southern west virginia its full of abandoned towns when coal used to be plentyfull. they left the town after mining was done. still today towns remain with houses and everything still abandoned

[kenatlaw]

Touching

[cathead77]

Thanks.....

[jayshepherds]

Enjoyed the video and song.Great job!!!

[cathead77]

Thank you very much.

[dsramfam]

My family is from Pocahontas, VA, and included several miners and railroad workers. My grandfather lost his leg in a mine accident and two of his sons worked in the mines, one for over 30 years in Gary, WV (he died of black lung in 2005, a proud UMWA man to the end). Many of your pictures could have been taken in Pocahontas. None of our parents' children remain in Pocahontas - we all moved out decades ago, but your poignant pictures and lyrics bring back memories of our youth.

[cathead77]

Thank you for watching my video.

[ObamaMama2]

Can you tell me what became of the coal miners company houses they use to live in, do folks still live in them or have they also become dilapiatidated & abandoned? I viewd the video's also of Pocahontas, so sorry they weren't able to renovate the company store before it fell down.

[ljones121]

as far as i know most of the old coal miners houses still stand, in most of the towns, in southern wv. my ex gf's family lived in a n old miner's house up in a holler, in a small town of wv. i done be moving back myself soon hopefully.

[Just2Intense]

thanks for your reply to ObamaMama, I was wondering the same thing.

[randyc999123]

cathead,

thank you for the great music,love the voice, lyrics and the great guitar playing.you are truly talented

[cathead77]

Thank you. You are so kind.

[showaltermicro]

Im tryn, I have a face now on youtube.

[WV8ED]

Hey Pal,

I really enjoyed that video. I hope it becomes a big hit for you.

Ed Evans

[cathead77]

Thanks, man!! And I wish for you continued success. You've made McDowell County proud!

[showaltermicro]

Your vids are GREAT.

[showaltermicro]

Only your music is better.

[cathead77]

Thank you for listening!

[cathead77]

I'm starting to hear your name more and more on local message boards and such. I wish you well in your endeavors.

[cathead77]

Thank you for watching.

[Gunnarsguns]

Absolutely perfect. You sure remind me of Waylon Jennings

[cathead77]

Thanks. Waylon is my favorite.

[cathead77]

That's exactly where most all those pictures were taken.......in Coalwood. The mine shut down there long ago, so the song was inspired by that. I live about 7 miles from there. Thank you for watching.

[lps45s8tracks]

Had to make sure this was added to my playlist.(;U DA MAN ALAN;)Your Songramp Bro.~(;Yrral Mallik;)

[guitarplyr2255]

I am studying mining engineering at WVU. I'm from Matoaka and I feel everything you said in this song.

I wanna revitalize Southern West Virginia. I love the place.

[cathead77]

Thanks for watching!

[GerryMATW]

A magnificent song and a very evocative video.

Your talent is quite awesome, Alan. This is as good as it gets.

[Maysey1]

Excellent video and great music. I believe you did capture this very well. A special thanks to huey180 for sharing with me. Mark

[cathead77]

Thank you.

[Maribo33]

My Grandpa was a coal miner here in Germany.

That was very hard work, my Grandpa died too early because he had black lung:-(

I loved him..

Thanks so much, dear John, for sharing this

touching video. 5*****

[cathead77]

Thank you so very much for watching.

[thcthc]

hey man im drunk and i am posting to and oldd oldd post ..but u have my full respect from SLOVENIA ,,,both og my granpas worked in a mine. and one has passed away the other is still alive.. and i feel the words u said.peace!

[Bflatblues55]

I absolutely love this. What a great and reflective tune! I am one who is rather nostalgic and I really appreciate your photo montage here as well ... just a real excellent job!

Thank you to John (huey180) for the share!

[cathead77]

I really appreciate your encouragement.

[huey180]

Five*****

[cathead77]

Thank you very much.

[danhclark]

Great stuff- and Truly from HERE! I posted a link to this on our Facebook page.

Elisse & Dan

[cathead77]

Thank you so much for watching.

[pebmiester45750]

Cathead, I loved your song, and the photos. Very good!!! Thank sfor posting. Hope you do more like this!

[cathead77]

Thank you for watching.

[dickclarkfan1]

Good job Cathead!

[cathead77]

Thank you very much.

[DAVIDDAMIENR]

Great Song!

Why do we Love those Old Minin' Towns so much?

They all look so much alike. Strip mines, Culm Banks, Row Houses, Mine Fires, Train Track to Nowhere. They're Not Quite Ghost Towns but they're Not Alive either. People move away for a Job or an Education and never come back.

Hope it never gets to the point where no family is left to put flowers on Grand Ma's grave from time to time.

Not much Coal left in the Ground but lots of family burried in thos hills.

David

[cathead77]

Thanks a bushel, David! There is plenty, plenty coal here in this neck of the woods. I hope the market picks back up like it used to be.

[CountryBoyYes]

I thought you did a fine job on this Cathead. Is this done in part Coalwood or Davey? A lot of these areas look very familiar me. I was a railroad man for Norfolk and Western and layed track through a lot of McDowell Co during the 70s

[cathead77]

Thank you. All the pictures are from Coalwood except the ones of the railroad tracks.