Digital Tradition Mirror

This notation is pretty simple; dark circles mean covered holes; empty circles mean uncovered holes; a '+' below means to blow harder to get the upper octave; a '#' below means this note is too low for the whistle chosen and you'll have to fake it :) The author of this program always plays accidentals by closing holes, so you'll never see half-covered holes.

When I was starting, I found notation like this to be very helpful, and I know plenty of people who have trouble reading music who find this notation easier. Good luck!

Coal Tattoo

(D whistle)

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
(Choose a whistle key: A B C D E F G Ab Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb A# B# C# D# E# F# G#)
Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Coal Tattoo
(Billy Ed Wheeler)

Travelin' down that coaltown road,
Listen to those rubber tires whine;
Goodbye to Buckeye and White Sycamore,
I'm leavin' you behind.
     I've been a coal man all my life
     Layin' down track in the hole,
     Got a back like an ironwood bent by the wind
     Blood veins blue as the coal.

Somebody said "That's a strange tattoo
You have on the side of your head."
I said "That's a blue print, left by the coal
Just a little more and I'd be dead"
     And I love the rumble and I love the dark
     I love the cool of the slate.
     But it's on down the new road lookin' for a job
     It's the travelin' and lookin' I hate.

I've stood for the union, walkin' the line,
Fought against the company;
Stood for the U. M. W. of A.
Now who's gonna stand for me?
     I got no house and I got no pay,
     Just got a worried soul;
     And this blue tattoo on the side of my head
     Left by the number nine coal.

Someday when I'm dead and gone
To Heaven, the land of my dreams,
I won't have to worry on losin' my job
To bad times 'n big machines.
     I ain't gonna pay my money away
     For pensions and hospital plans.
     I'm gonna pick coal where the blue heavens roll
     And sing with the angel bands.

Copyright Quartet Music, Inc. & Bexhill Music
Recorded by Kingston Trio, Jim Croce, Collins
RG

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!