Joey Hall - Doghole

Doghole is an original song written and performed entirely by Joey Hall. All rights belong exclusively to the artist.

This is for my father and it's from his perspective until the last phrase of the last verse. Kenneth Hall was an athlete, a coal miner, and a preacher. He lost his struggle with his vices on August 26th 2015.

His parents, my grandparents, had issues of their own that they eventually overcame. Us grandchildren knew nothing but love and affection from them.

A doghole is a small family owned and operated coal mine with little to no concern for the safety of - and consequently - the lives of the miners. My father was crushed when the ceiling of one of these mines caved in on him. He was rescued and suffered non life threatening injuries, but was prescribed opiates and quickly became addicted to them which eventually lead to his death.

LYRICS
Mom and dad didn't love me
yeah they told me so
Strip me down bare,
throw my ass in the snow

Lock the door behind me
Yeah they'd laugh and they'd sneer
"Wipe them tears off your face, boy,
or I'll show you fear"

When dad put down the bottle
left his anger there too
They both found God
Mama said "I love you"

Everything changed
when their grandkids came
No reason left
for me to not be okay

But the light never came
Only darkness was rearranged
Along with my sorrow
and all of my shame
Nothing but my pain
could ever remain

Spent my 20's boltin' roofs
down in a doghole
Scared to death on my belly
diggin' 20 inch coal

Everyday was a good day
as long as we survived
Pinman holds the frontline,
keeps everyone alive

I had to do it fucked up
so I could get through
Yeah them pills and that bottle
really gets to you

When that Ceilin' came down
and finally buried me
Thought I was hellbound
drowning in a black sea

But the light never came
Only darkness was rearranged
Along with my sorrow
and all of my shame
Nothin' but my pain
could ever remain

I tried to find the answers
in the word of God
Shoutin' to the pews
to justify my lot

From a distance I had to
watch my kids grow
'cause it's hard to do right
in a world so cold

I took my last breath
in a bed all alone
In a hell I made
many miles from my home

I write this to say
though it's been so long,
but words aren't enough
so I put it in song

I hope the light finally came
and took all your darkness
so far away
Along with your sorrow
and all of your shame
I hope only love
is all that remains

Dad, I hope the light finally came
and took all the darkness
so far away
Along with your sorrow
and all of your shame
I hope only love
is all the remains

Is all that remains
I hope only love
is all that remains
All that remains