They learned readin', rightin', Route 23 
To the jobs that lay waiting in those cities' factories 
They didn't know that old highway 
Could lead them to a world of misery 

Have you ever been down Kentucky-way 
Say south of Prestonburg 
Have you ever been up in a holler 
Have you ever heard 
A mountain man cough his life away 
From diggin' that black coal in those dark mines, those dark mines 
If you had you might just understand 
The reason that they left is all behind 
 
They learned readin', rightin', Route 23 
To the jobs that lay waiting in those cities' factories 
They learned readin', rightin', roads to the north 
To the luxury and comfort a coal line can't afford 
They thought readin', rightin', Route 23 
Would take them to the good life that they had never seen 
They didn't know that old highway 
Could lead them to a world of misery 

Have you ever seen 'em put the kids in the car after work on Friday night 
Pull up in a holler about 2 a.m. and see a light still shinin' bright 
Those mountain folks sat up that late 
Just to hold those little grandkids in their arms, in their arms 
And I'm proud to say that I've been blessed 
And touched by their sweet hillbilly charm 

They learned readin', rightin', Route 23 
To the jobs that lay waiting in those cities' factories 
They learned readin', rightin', roads to the north 
To the luxury and comfort a coal line can't afford 
They thought readin', rightin', Route 23 
Would take them to the good life that they had never seen 
They didn't know that old highway 
Could lead them to a world of misery 
Yeah, it turns out that that old highway, leads you to a world of misery