There were no cuckoos, no sycamores We played about the forest floor Underneath the silver maples, the balsams And the sky
We popped the heads off dandelions Assuming roles from nursery rhymes Rested on a riverbank and grew up by and by And grew up by and by
Frail my heart apart and play me little Shady Grove Ring the Bells of Rhymney Till they ring inside my head Forever Bounce the bow, Rock the gallows for The Hanged Man's Reel And wake the Devil from his dream
I'm goin' back to Harlan I'm goin' back to Harlan Goin' back to Harlan
And if you were Willie More, Then I was Barbara Allen or Fair Ellen All sad at the cabin door A-weepin' and a-pinin' for love Ah, weepin' and a-pinin' for love
Frail my heart apart and play me little Shady Grove Ring the Bells of Rhymney Till they ring inside my head Forever Bounce the bow, rock the gallows for The Hanged Man's Reel And wake the Devil from his dream
I'm goin' back to Harlan I'm goin' back to Harlan Goin' back to Harlan