[Verse 1]
Far away on a hill to sunny mountain side
Many years ago we parted, my little Ruth and I
From the sunny mountain side
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 Virginia
Back to my clinch mountain home
Carry me back to old Virginia
Back to my old mountain home

[Verse 2]
I fold my arms around her, leaned her head upon my breast
I told her I would wed her when I came back from the west
At my old 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 mountain side

[Chorus]

[Verse 3]
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]