Vampire in Appalachia
Vampire in Appalachia: A Haunting Tale of Wealth Divide
Lyrics
Yeah he worked his whole life in the hills
Reference to a person who spent their entire life in the Appalachian hills.
Way below the roads and rivers
Describes the person's location below the roads and rivers in the hills.
Where that black diamond lives
Refers to the presence of coal ("black diamond") in the hills.
Black on black and dust on dust
Symbolizes the coal mining industry with "black on black" and the dust associated with it.
It keeps fillin' up his lungs
Describes the impact of coal mining on health, with dust filling up the lungs.
And so the sick keep getting sicker
Expresses the worsening health conditions of the community.
While the rich keep getting richer
Highlights the growing economic disparity, with the rich becoming wealthier.
There's a vampire in Appalachia, and we're running out of blood.
Introduces the metaphorical "vampire in Appalachia," suggesting a force draining the region's vitality.
All the money leaves for Wall Street or some place across the sea
Addresses the economic outflow to distant places, leaving the local economy struggling.
There ain't enough to pay our teachers, and the drugs keep flowing free
Describes societal issues, including inadequate funding for education and drug-related problems.
It's hard to find a friend or neighbor who ain't lost someone they love
Reflects the widespread experience of losing loved ones due to various challenges.
And so the sick keep getting sicker
Reiterates the theme of declining health and the widening wealth gap.
While the rich keep getting richer
Reemphasizes the increasing wealth disparity in the region.
There's a vampire in Appalachia, and we're running out of blood.
Reiterates the presence of a metaphorical "vampire" causing harm to Appalachia.
Ohhhs ohhhs
Represents vocal expressions or a chorus in the form of "ohhhs."
He used to hide out in the shadows, he used to haunt me in my dreams
Describes the past when the issues were less visible or acknowledged.
Now he's standing front and center in the spotlight
Highlights the increasing visibility of the problems, now in the spotlight.
For you and me and all the world to see
Suggests that the problems are now evident for everyone to see.
Yeah, the rich keep getting richer
Reiterates the theme of the rich becoming wealthier.
While the sick keep getting sicker
Reemphasizes the worsening health conditions of the community.
There's a vampire in Appalachia
Reiterates the metaphorical presence of a "vampire" in Appalachia.
There's a vampire in Appalachia
Repeats the idea of a "vampire" draining the vitality of the region.
There's a vampire in Appalachia and we're running
Confirms the presence of the metaphorical "vampire" and the urgency of the situation.
Yeah, we're running out of blood
Underlines the imminent depletion of resources or vitality in Appalachia.
We're running out of blood
Repeats the message of depleting resources or vitality.
Yeah, we're running out of blood
Concludes with a strong affirmation of the region running out of vital resources.
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