A HERO IN HARLAN (Chris Jones)
By: Dixie Hall (BMI)
Tom T. Hall (BMI)

VERSE 1: A GREY SILVER CASKET ROLLS OFF OF THE AIRPLANE
THE STARS AND THE STRIPES ARE DRAPED OVER THE LID
INSIDE IS THE BODY OF OUR LITTLE BROTHER
THEY SAY HE'S A SOLIDER, BUT HE'S JUST A KID

VERSE 2: WE'RE HERE TO TAKE HIM TO HARLAN KENTUCKY
WHERE HE WILL BE BURIED IN OUR FAMILY PLOT
WE THINK OF THAT DAY WHEN HE WENT IN THE ARMY
EXPECTING A MUCH BETTER JOB THAN HE GOT

CHORUS: HE'LL BE A HERO IN HARLAN
LIKE ALL THE YOUNG SOLDIERS BEFORE
HE'S NOT THE FIRST AND HE WON'T BE THE LAST
TO LAY DOWN HIS LIFE IN A WAR

VERSE 3: SOMEWHERE IN THE RECORDS HE'LL JUST BE A NUMBER
ANOTHER YOUNG MAN LYING UNDER A SHEET
WE'RE TAKING HIM HOME TO REST HIGH ON A HILLSIDE
AND HE'LL BE A HERO IN HARLAN THIS WEEK

VERSE 4: HE NEVER MADE A'S WHEN HE SAT IN THE CLASSROOM
NEVER GOT DATES WITH THE PRETTIEST GIRLS
WHEN HE GOT TURNED DOWN FOR A JOB IN THE COAL MINE
I GUESS THAT'S WHAT LED HIM TO GO SAVE THE WORLD

REPEAT CHORUS

VERSE 5: THE WORLD IS A BIG PLACE AND MAYBE NEEDS SAVING
BUT WHAT CAN A COUNTRY BOY DO WITH A GUN
HE USED TO WIN TEDDY BEARS DOWN AT THE FAIRGROUNDS
WHEN LIVING WAS EASY AND SHOOTING WAS FUN

VERSE 6: THEY FOLD UP THE STARS AND THE STRIPES FOR HIS MOTHER
AND GENTLY THEY TRADE HER THE FLAG FOR HER SON
A HARDER EXCHANGE NEVER TOOK PLACE IN HARLAN
BUT IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME IT'S EVER BEEN DONE

REPEAT CHORUS

TAG: AND HE'LL BE A HERO IN HARLAN