Back in the days of my childhood
In the evening when everything was still
I used to sit and listen to the foxhounds
With my dad in the old Kentucky hills
Chorus:
I'm on my way back to the old home
The road winds on up the hill
But there's no light in the window
That shined long ago where I live
Soon my childhood days were over
I had to leave my old home
For dad and mother were called to heaven
I's left in this world all alone
High in the hills of old Kentucky
Stands the fondest spot in my memory
I'm on my way back to the old home
The light in the window I long to see
Roses love sunshine, violets love dew
Angels in heaven, know I love you
Know I love you, know I love you
Angels in heaven, know I love you
If you don't love me, love whom you please
Throw your arms round me, give my heart ease
Give my heart ease love, give my heart ease
Throw your arms round me, give my heart ease
Build me a castle, forty feet high
So I can see her, as she rides by
As she rides by love, as she rides by
So I can see her, as she rides by
Write me a letter, send it by mail
Send it in care of, the Birmingham jail
Birmingham jail love, Birmingham jail,
Send it in care of, the Birmingham jail
Down in the valley, valley so low
Hang your head over, hear the wind blow
Hear the wind blow, hear the wind blow
Hang your head over, hear the wind blow
Bird in a cage love, bird in a cage
Dying for freedom, ever a slave
Ever a slave love, ever a slave
Dying for freedom, ever a slave
Oh, I'll twine with my mingles and waving black hair
With the roses so red and the lilies so fair
And the myrtle so bright with the emerald hue
The pale and the leader and eyes look like blue
Oh I'll dance, I will sing and my laugh shall be gay
I will charm every heart, in his crown I will sway
When I woke from my dreaming, my idol was clay
All portion of love had all flown away
Oh he taught me to love him and promised to love
And to cherish me over all others above
How my heart is now wond'ring no mis'ry can tell
He's left me no warning, no words of farewell
Oh, he taught me to love him and called me his flower
That was blooming to cheer him through life's dreary hour
Oh, I long to see him and regret the dark hour
He's gone and neglected this pale wildwood flower
Well every time it rains Lord I run to my window
All I do is wring my hands and mourn
Well listen to that thunder roar
Can't you hear that lonesome wind moan
Tell me baby now why you been gone so long
Chorus:
Tell me baby now why you been gone so long
You been gone so long now
Tell me baby now why you been gone so long
Wolfs scratchin at my door lord Lord
I can hear that lonesome wind blow
Tell me baby now why you been gone so long
Well someone said they thought they saw you rollin down in Reno
With a big ol man from San Antone
They tell me I'm a fool to pine for you oh what do they know
Tell me baby now why you been gone so long
Ain't nothin I want to do lord
So I guess I could get stoned
And let the past paint pictures in my head
Drink a fifth of thunderbird and try to write a sad sad song
Tell my baby now why you been gone so long
In the deep rolling hills of old Virginia
There's a place that I love so well
Where I spent many days of my childhood
In the cabin where we loved to dwell
White dove will mourn in sorrow
The willows will hang their heads
I'll live my life in sorrow
Since mother and daddy are dead
We were all so happy there together
In our peaceful little mountain home
But the Savior needs angels up in heaven
Now they sing around the great white throne
As the years roll by I often wonder
If we will all be together someday
And each night as I wander through the grave yard
Darkness finds me as I kneel to pray