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
  
  Chorus:
  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
  
  Chorus:
  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