About the song
“Coal Miner’s Daughter” is a deeply personal and poignant song by the renowned American singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn. Released in 1970, it quickly became one of her most celebrated works, topping the Billboard country chart and earning a lasting place in country music history. The song was the centerpiece of an album of the same name, produced by Owen Bradley.
The song paints a vivid picture of Lynn’s early life in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, during the Great Depression. Loretta Lynn, born in 1932, draws on her own experiences growing up in rural poverty. In “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” she recounts the life of her father, a coal miner, and the challenges faced by her family. Her father not only labored in the coal mines but also worked as a farmer, while her mother managed the household duties with great effort.
The lyrics offer a glimpse into the struggles and resilience of Lynn’s family. They describe daily hardships, such as the difficulty of maintaining a home with limited resources, and include touching details like her mother reading the Bible by coal-oil light. Lynn’s own struggles, including the labor-intensive process of washing clothes by hand, are woven into the narrative.
Lynn wrote both the music and lyrics for “Coal Miner’s Daughter” in 1969. Initially, the song included ten verses, but producer Owen Bradley suggested trimming it to avoid being overly long. Lynn reluctantly removed several verses, which she later expressed regret over losing.
Recorded on October 1, 1969, at Bradley’s Barn studio in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, the song features a steel guitar and fiddle, adding to its authentic country feel. Despite its simplicity, the song’s power comes from Lynn’s heartfelt performance and the genuine reflection of her past. “Coal Miner’s Daughter” has been covered by various artists, including a notable version with Sheryl Crow and Miranda Lambert, showcasing its continued influence and significance in music history.
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Lyrics
Well, I was borned a coal miner’s daughter
In a cabin, on a hill in Butcher Holler
We were poor but we had love
That’s the one thing that daddy made sure of
He shoveled coal to make a poor man’s dollar
My daddy worked all night in the Van Lear coal mines
All day long in the field a hoin’ corn
Mommy rocked the babies at night
And read the Bible by the coal oil light
And ever’ thing would start all over come break of morn’
Daddy loved and raised eight kids on a miner’s pay
Mommy scrubbed our clothes on a washboard every day
Why, I’ve seen her fingers bleed
To complain, there was no need
She’d smile in mommy’s understanding way
In the summertime we didn’t have shoes to wear
But in the wintertime we’d all get a brand new pair
From a mail order catalog
Money made from selling a hog
Daddy always managed to get the money somewhere
Yeah, I’m proud to be a coal miner’s daughter
I remember well, the well where I drew water
The work we done was hard
At night we’d sleep ’cause we were tired
Never thought of ever leaving Butcher Holler
Well, a lot of things have changed since a way back then
Ah, and it’s so good to be back home again
Not much left but the floors, nothing lives here anymore
‘Cept the memories of a coal miner’s daughter
‘Cept the memories of a coal miner’s daughter