When I was a child, this forest was thick
The chestnut trees covered this Blue Ridge Mountain
And in the fall, we'd go out and gather the burrs
Ripe from the ground, then we'd take them to town
Twenty-five cents a pound to buy new shoes

Now I am old, my hair has gone grey
And the trees are all gone, they've hauled them away
Life will never be the same

As a young man, I walked, my axe in my hands
To search out the carcasses dead where they stand
Until the logger men came with their canvas tent towns
Sawed into planks all the trees that remain
For they were dead just the same
Whether they tore them down

Now I am old, my hair has gone grey
And the trees are all gone, they've hauled them away
Life will never be the same

Each man's heart was pained as we cleared out the dead
The forest floor bloodied with bark brownish-red
A branch line was built alongside this creek
But as they finished the job, even the ties were torn up
And loaded on top as the train rolled away
Now I am old, my hair has gone grey
And the trees are all gone, they've hauled them away
Life will never be the same

Now I am old, my hair has gone grey
And the trees are all gone, they've hauled them away
Life will never be the same

No, life will never be the same