There where no cuckoos, no sycamores
We played about the forest floor
Underneath the silver maples, the balsams and the sky
We popped the heads off of dandelions
Assuming roles from nursery rhymes
Rested on the riverbank and grew up by and by
And grew up by and by
Frail my heart apart
And play me a little Shady Grove
Ring the bells of Rhymney
'Til they ring inside my head forever
Bounce the bow, rock the gallows
For the hangman's reel
And wake the devil from his dream
I'm goin' back to Harlan, oh
I'm goin' back to Harlan, oh
I'm goin' back to Harlan
And if you were Willie Moore
And I was Barbara Allen or Fair Ellen
All sad at the cabin door
Weepin' and pinin' for love
Weepin' and pinin' for love
Frail my heart apart
And play me a little Shady Grove
Ring the bells of Rhymney
'Til they ring inside my head forever
Bounce the bow, rock the gallows
For the hangman's reel
And wake the devil from his dream
I'm goin' back to Harlan, oh
I'm goin' back to Harlan, oh
I'm goin' back to Harlan
I'm goin' back to Harlan, oh
I'm goin' back to Harlan, oh
I'm goin' back to Harlan, yeah
I'm goin' back to Harlan, oh
I'm goin' back to Harlan, oh
I'm goin' back to Harlan
Oh
Oh
Oh
