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Readin’, Rightin’, Route 23 Lyrics by Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers

Industrial Strength Bluegrass: Southwestern Ohio’s Musical Legacy

2021

[Intro]
They learned readin', rightin', Route 23
To the jobs that laid waitin' in those cities' factories
They didn't know that old highway
Would lead them to a road of misery
[Verse 1]
Have you ever been down Kentucky Way
Stay south of Prestonsburg
Have you ever been up in a holler
And have you ever heard a mountain man
Cough his life away
Digging that black coal in those dark mines
Those dark mines
If you had, you just might understand
The reason they'd left it all behind
[Chorus]
They learned readin', rightin', Route 23
To the jobs that laid waitin' in those cities' factories
They learned readin', rightin', roads to the north
To the luxury and comfort a coal miner can't afford
They thought readin', rightin', Route 23
Would take them to the good life they had never seen
They didn't know that old highway
Could lead them to a road of misery
[Verse 2]
Have you ever seen them put the kids in the car
After work on a Friday night
Well, I've been hotter about 2 AM
And see a light still burnin' bright
Those mountain folks set up that late
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 hillbilly charm
[Chorus]
They learned readin', rightin', Route 23
To the jobs that laid waitin' in those cities' factories
They learned readin', rightin', roads to the north
To the luxury and comfort a coal miner can't afford
They thought readin', rightin', Route 23
Would take them to the good life they had never seen
They didn't know that old highway
Could lead them to a world of misery
[Outro]
And I thank God for every trip back home
Heading south on Highway 23
Credits
Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers

Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers

About “Readin’, Rightin’, Route 23” by Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers

Read the complete lyrics to "Readin’, Rightin’, Route 23" by Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers from the album "Industrial Strength Bluegrass: Southwestern Ohio’s Musical Legacy" in 2021. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Bluegrass, Country, Folk.

"Readin’, Rightin’, Route 23" is performed by Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers. from the album "Industrial Strength Bluegrass: Southwestern Ohio’s Musical Legacy" in 2021 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Readin’, Rightin’, Route 23", explore more songs by Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Readin’, Rightin’, Route 23" is credited to Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Readin’, Rightin’, Route 23" appears on "Industrial Strength Bluegrass: Southwestern Ohio’s Musical Legacy" in 2021.

Visit the Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers artist page at /artist/joe-mullins-and-the-radio-ramblers for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.