—Cliff Hess, a.k.a. Roy B. Carson, 1924
When I was young and in my prime
I left my home in Caroline
Now all I do is sit and pine
For all the folks I left behind
Chorus:
I've got those Blue Ridge Mountain blues
I want to hear those hound dogs bay
I want to hunt the possum where the corn tops blossom
In that Blue Ridge far away
I see a window with a light
I see two heads of snowy white
I seems to hear them both recite
Where is my wandering boy tonight
Chorus:
I've got the blue ridge mountain blues
I want to hear those hound dogs bay
I'm gonna hunt the possum while the corn tops blossom
In that Blue Ridge far away
I'll always do right by my Ma
I'll always do right by my Pa
I'll hang around that cabin door
No work, no worry anymore
Chorus:
I've got them Blue Ridge Mountain blues
And want to stand right here and say
My grip is packed to travel, and I'll be scratchin' gravel
To that Blue Ridge far away
Bill Clifton's Lyrics:
When I was young and in my prime
I left my home in Caroline
Now all I do is sit and pine
For all the folks I left behind
Chorus:
I've got them Blue Ridge Mountain blues
And I stand right here to say
My grip is packed to travel and I'm scratchin' gravel
For that Blue Ridge far away
I'm gonna stay right by my Pa
And I'm gonna do right by my Ma
I'll hang around that cabin door
No work or worry anymore
Chorus:
I've got them Blue Ridge Mountain blues
Gonna see my old dog Trey
Gonna hunt the possum where the corn tops blossom
On that Blue Ridge far away
Now I see a window with a light
I see two heads of snowy white
I seems I hear them both recite
Where is my wandering boy tonight
Chorus:
I've got the Blue Ridge Mountain blues
And I stand right here to say
Every day I'm counting 'til I reach that mountain
On that blue ridge far away
Pop Stoneman's version:
When I was young and in my prime
I left my home in Caroline
Now all I do is sigh and pine
For the dear old folks I left behind
Chorus:
I've got them Blue Ridge Mountain blues
And I stand right here and say
My grip is packed to travel, and I'm scratchin' gravel
For the Blue Ridge far away.
I see two heads of snowy white
I see a window with a light
I seem to hear them both recite
Where is my wandering girl tonight
I'm gonna do right by my Ma
I'm gonna do right by my Pa
I'll hang around their cabin door
No work or worry anymore
Chorus:
I've got them Blue Ridge Mountain blues
Want to see my old dog Trey
Gonna hunt the possum where the corn tops blossom
On the Blue Ridge far away
Chorus:
I've got them Blue Ridge Mountain blues
And I stand right here and say
My grip is packed to travel, and I'm scratchin' gravel
For the Blue Ridge far away.
Verse:
| I | V | V | I |
| I | V | V | I |
Chorus:
| I | V | V | I |
| I | IV | V | I |