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Updated: Oct 10, 2021

This Town


from Crucible, PA


Written by: Alex Shelbourne


Ten miles south of Greene County Line

Just north of where Pennsylvania fades away

Where the Mono River meets the Cumberland Bluffs

Lives the coal mining town of Crucible, PA


It’s a place where people aren’t plenty

And a place where jobs are just as few

The only mode of work is underground

But for his family, there’s nothing a man won’t do


In this town

Where money has no worth

Where mankind strips the earth

This crossroad of heaven and hell

And the place of my birth


On Jane Street sits a white house

Only as big as my old man could afford

Two rooms, no backyard, no stores in sight

Nothing for kids to do but praise their lord


My brother and I did our share of praying

But only to each other we were devout

He stopped praying years ago

But I’ll keep praying until he gets out


Of this town

Where money has no worth

Where mankind strips the earth

This crossroad of heaven and hell

And the place of my birth


This town, everything looks the same

This town, lives up to its name

This town, the sky doesn’t shine blue, it shows brown

This town, all hearts are pure

This town, the people endure

This town, we don’t try to stand up, we stay down

This town, the ground dies of thirst

This town, family comes first

This town, where you won’t find me around anymore, anymore


In this town

Where money has no worth

Where mankind strips the earth

This crossroad of heaven and hell

And the place of my birth



© 2019 by Alex Shelbourne

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