Far away on the hills To a sunny mountainside Many years ago we parted My little Ruth and I From this sunny mountainside She clung to me and trembled When I told her we must part She said "Don't go, my darling It almost breaks my heart To think of you so far apart" [Chorus:] Carry me back to old Virginny Back to my Clinch Mountain home Carry me back to old Virginny Back to my Clinch Mountain home Well, a-le-ho, le-ho-lay-ee Well, a-le-ho, le-ho-lee Yeah, lee-oh-lay-ee-hee Oh, my mountain home I folded my arms around her Leaned her head against my breast I told her I would wed her When I came back from the west Back to my Clinch Mountain home In my hand I hold a picture Of the old home far away In the other one my sweetheart I'm thinking of today On the sunny mountainside Carry me back to old Virginny Back to my Clinch Mountain home Carry me back to old Virginny Back to my Clinch Mountain home Well, a-le-ho, le-ho-lay-ee Well, a-le-ho, le-ho-lee Yeah, lee-oh-lay-ee-hee Oh, my mountain home [Instrumental break] My mother's old and feeble My father's getting gray I'm going back to Virginia And I expect to stay At my old Clinch Mountain home [Chorus]