Coal Miner’s Daughter: Loretta Lynn’s Signature Song

There will always be one song that would place a certain singer in the spotlight and the song Coal Miner’s Daughter of Loretta Lynn did it for her.

The song was released in 1970 and it became her signature song. It is also one of country music’s most widely-known songs that also became the basis for her autobiography and movie at the same time.

Here are the lyrics so we can understand Loretta Lynn’s story.

“Coal Miner’s Daughter”

Well, I was born 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’d shovel 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 ever’ 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

I never thought of ever leaving Butcher Holler

Well a lot of things have changed since a way back then

And it’s so good to be back home again

Not much left but the floor, nothing lives here anymore

Except the memory of a coal miner’s daughter

 This song is simply raw, authentic and touching. It talks about her personal hardship growing up from a poor family in Kentucky. Though money was scarce and life was extra challenging because of what little they have, her father made sure they had the love to go by. I can definitely feel Loretta’s pride singing this song despite its lamentation.

Personally, I think that the love of the family especially that of a father’s and the sacrifices he makes to provide for them is the noblest thing in the world. Admit it or not, there are some fathers out there who can’t do the same for the families so, I really look up to them who step up and do everything for their family’s well-being.

Don’t forget to share this all Loretta Lynn fans and leave your comments below.