[Chorus]
Oh the green rolling hills of West Virginia
Are the nearest thing to Heaven that I know
Though the times are sad and drear
And I cannot linger here, they'll keep me
And never let me go

[Verse 1]
My Daddy said "Don't ever be a miner
For a mine's grave is all you'll ever own
There's hard times everywhere
I can't find a dime to spare
These are the worst times I've ever known"

[Chorus]
But the green rolling hills of West Virginia
Are the nearest thing to Heaven that I know
Though the times are sad and drear
And I cannot linger here, they'll keep me
And never let me go

[Verse 2]
So I'll move away into some crowded city
In some northern factory town, you'll find me there
Though I'll leave the past behind
I'll never change my mind
These troubled times are more than I can bear
[Chorus]
But the green rolling hills of West Virginia
Are the nearest thing to Heaven that I know
Though the times are sad and drear
And I cannot linger here, they'll keep me
And never let me go

[Instrumental break]

[Verse 3]
Someday I'll go back to West Virginia
To those green, rolling hills I love so well
Oh someday I'll go home when I know I'll right the wrong
And these hard times will follow me no more

[Chorus]
Oh the green rolling hills of West Virginia
Are the nearest thing to Heaven that I know
Though the times are sad and drear
And I cannot linger here, they'll keep me
And never let me go
Though the times are sad and drear
And I cannot linger here, they'll keep me
And never let me go

[Instrumental: Wildwood Flower]