Lyr Req: They Can't Put It Back (Billy Edd Wheeler

Subject: Lyr Req: Can't Put It Back
From: GUEST,Stu
Date: 13 Dec 02 - 02:04 PM

I can't find the words to this one anywhere. I have a PARTIAL recording of it that I picked up about 20 years ago on West Virginia Public Radio. It's done a capella style by a male singer. part of it goes:

they come and tell me I've got to move
make way for their big machines
but I'm not a-movin' until they kill me
like they killed the fish in my stream
I ain't a-movin' outta my tracks
cause they can't put it back

I never was one to walk in lines
picket with placards, carry signs
but maybe I'm behind the times
you can bet your sweet life they're gonna hear ftom me
I ani't gonna take this layin' down
cause I'm gettin tired of seein rocks that bleed on the bare guts of the ground
I ain't a-movin' outta my tracks
cause they can't put it back

Thanks in advance!! --Stu

Rattlesnake Creek

Subject: Lyr Add: THEY CAN'T PUT IT BACK (Billy Edd Wheeler
From: Sorcha
Date: 13 Dec 02 - 02:31 PM

Here are the lyrics, from http://www.ohvec.org/non_html_documents/newsletter_pdf/enotes_1998_10.pdf (Warning: this URL freezes my computer)

THEY CAN'T PUT IT BACK

Down the valley, about a mile from me
Where the crows no longer cry,
There's a great big earth-moving monster machine.
Lordy, it stands 10 stories high.
And the ground it can it, it's a sight.
Lord, it takes a hundred tons at a bite.
It can dig up the grass, it's a fact,
-but it can't put it back.

They come and tell me I've got to move
To make way for that big machine,
But I ain't a-movin' unless they kill me
Like they killed the fish in my stream.
But look at that big machine go.
Took that shady grove a long time to grow.
It can rip it out with one whack,
-but it can't put it back.

You can bet your sweet life you're gonna hear from me.
I ain't gonna take it layin' down.
'Cause I'm getting tired of seeing rocks that bleed
On the bare guts of the ground.
I ain't a-gonna sell my soul
So they can rip out another tiny little vein of coal.
I ain't moving out of my track,
-'cause they can't put it back.

(c) 1956, 1971, Quartet Music and Bexhill Music Co., available on the tape "We Are Not for Sale", produced by the WV Environmental Council, Charleston, WV, 304-346-5891.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Can't Put It Back
From: Bearheart
Date: 18 Dec 02 - 09:39 PM

The original version of this song can be found on They Can't Put It Back by Mike Cline and Rich Kirby, an incredible collection of songs (and a few tunes) about strip mining and the plight of the miner in Appalachia, primarily WV and KY. It was probably this version you heard. Mike is still sining and is involved with the Augusta Heritage Arts Workshops at Davis and Elkins College in Elkins WV, or was a few years ago. The album is still available through June Appal Records. If you go to
http://www.appalshop.org/junappal/
and click on Contemporary you'll find it. Many powerful and moving songs sung in the old-time style. Though I really love Celtic music this is one of my all-time favorite recordings. Put out in the 70s it's still very timely.

Bekki

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Can't Put It Back
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 10:36 PM

Thank you mudcat for helping me assemble the lyrics for "They can't put it back. I bought the Country Cooking with The Fiction Brothers record sometime in the last century and I've always loved Nondi Leonard's version of it. But it is one tough song to find.
Cheers,
Owlkat.