Oh, the green rolling hills of West Virginia
Are the nearest thing to heaven that I know
Though the times are sad and drear
And I cannot linger here, they'll keep me
And never let me go
My daddy said "don't ever be a miner",
For a mines grave is all
I'll ever own
There's hard times everywhere
I can't find a dime to spare
These are the worst times I've ever known
But the green rolling hills of West Virginia
Are the nearest thing to heaven that I know
Though the times are sad and drear
And I cannot linger here, they'll keep me
And never let me go
So I'll move away into some crowded city.
In some northern factory town you'll find me there
Though I'll leave the past behind
I'll never change my mind
These troubled times are more than I can bear
But, the green rolling hills of West Virginia
Are the nearest thing to heaven that I know
Though the times are sad and drear
And I cannot linger here, they'll keep me
And never let me go
[Instrumental]
Someday, I'll go back to West Virginia
To those green, rolling hills I love so well
Oh, someday I'll go home and I know I'll right the wrong
These hard times will follow me no more
Oh, the green rolling hills of West Virginia
Are the nearest thing to heaven that I know
Though the times are sad and drear
And I cannot linger here, they'll keep me
And never let me go
Though the times are sad and drear
And I cannot linger here, they'll keep me
And never let me go
[Instrumental]