There were no cuckoos, no sycamores
We played about the forest floor
Underneath the silver maples, the balsams, and the sky
We popped the heads off dandelions
Assuming roles from nursery rhymes
Rested on the riverbank and grew up by and by
And grew up by and by

Frail my heart apart
And play me a little "Shady Grove"
Ring the bells of Rhymney
'Til they ring inside my head forever
Bounce the bow
Rock the gallows
For the hangman's reel
And wake the devil from his dream
I'm going back to Harlan
I'm going back to Harlan
I'm going back to Harlan

And if you were Willie Moore
And I was Barbara Allen
Or Fair Ellen all sad at the cabin door
A-weeping and a-pining for love
A-weeping and a-pining for love
Frail my heart apart
And play me a little "Shady Grove"
Ring the bells of Rhymney
'Til they ring inside my head forever
Bounce the bow
Rock the gallows
For the hangman's reel
And wake the devil from his dream
I'm going back to Harlan
I'm going back to Harlan
I'm going back to Harlan

I'm going back to Harlan
I'm going back to Harlan
I'm going back to Harlan