It's been ten long years since I left my home in the hollow where I was born
Where the cool fall nights make the woods smell right and the fox hunter blows him horn
I fell in love with a girl from the town, I thought that she would be true
I ran away to Charlottsville and worked in a sawmill or two

What have they done to the old home place?
Why did they tear it down?
And why did I leave the plow in the field and look for a job in the town?

Now the girl ran off with somebody else, The taverns took all my pay
And here I stand where the old home stood before they took it away
Now the geese they fly south and the cold wind blows as I stand here and hang my head
I've lost my love and I've lost my home, and now I wish that I was dead

(chorus)