This is song is about West Virginia's coal miners and their battle with the coal companies. The miners were oppressed by the coal companies with unsafe mining conditions and low wages (sometimes only being paid with company store money which could only be spent in the company store. Usually the company stores had very over priced merchandise). When the miners spoke of a union for far wages, the coal companies reacted by sending private investigators to the coal camps, where they would spy on the miner who were trying to unionize. After the events at matewan, wv and many meetings with the companies, the miners rallied in Charleston and marched to Logan county, were on blair mountain were met by the us army. This is the only time outside of war times that the us army has been called in to attack its own citizens. The coal miners wore red bandannas around their neck and this is were the term "redneck" is derived.