[Verse 1]
Well, I've been a traveler most of my life
Never took a home, never took a wife
Ran away young and decided to roam
Wanna see my mama and my daddy back home

[Chorus]
Home, where the river runs cold
The water tastes good, the winters ain't cold
Home, where the trees grow tall
The home fires burn, the whippoorwills call

[Verse 2]
I remember stories that my daddy used to tell
My eyes would get big, and his chest did really swell
I could sit for hours and listen with glee
As he'd tell of how he lived when he's a boy like me

[Chorus]
Home, where the river runs cold
The water tastes good, the winters ain't cold
Home, where the trees grow tall
The home fires burn, the whippoorwills call

[Verse 3]
Well, mama dear, mama do you still love your boy?
After all my roamin' can I still bring you joy?
Mom sent a letter, got it not long ago
She said "Come home, I'm a-missin' you so"
[Chorus]
Home, where the river runs cold
The water tastes good, the winters ain't cold
Home, where the trees grow tall
The home fires burn, the whippoorwills call

[Outro]
Whippoorwills call
Whippoorwills call
Whippoorwills