When the snow melts high on the mountain top // It’s on its way back home // Run down to the river, meet another rain drop // It’s on its way back home

When the spring air warms and the birds wing by // They’re on their way back home // Rushing back to the nest, gonna bring a new life // They’re on their way back home

Everything that I can see // Doesn’t even bother to look at me // They’re just singing loud and cheerfully // “We’re on our way back home”

When I lay down my shovel and the work is done // I’m on my way back home // Give a shout to the mountains and the setting sun // I’m on my way back home

When my grandmother sits in her rocking chair // She’s on her way back home // She lived her life as one long prayer // And she’s on her way back home

Everything that I can see // Doesn’t even bother to look at me // They’re just singing loud and cheerfully // “We’re on our way back home”

Drove my first spike on the Pennsylvania Railroad // Twenty miles from Pittsburgh, when Windber lived on coal // Cuts like a knife, the way the winter wind blows // And the dull thud of the summer sun done beat down on my souI

It’s a hard time livin’ in these hard, hard times // It’s a hard time livin’ in these hard, hard times // It’s a hard time livin’ in these hard, hard times

Steel in the mills and in the eyes of the preacher’s daughter // Allegheny Mountains don’t hold no hope no more // Steel in the hills, the steel is in the water // And the blood is on their hands as they go walking out the door

It’s a hard time livin’ in these hard, hard times // It’s a hard time livin’ in these hard, hard times // It’s a hard time livin’ in these hard, hard times

She’s like a tree to me // A maple, stable and serene // Providing shade and leafy green // Protection from the worst of all the thistles

I’m like a train to him // A smoky rush, mighty gust of wind // Blowing where the forests already thinned // And slowing only when I whet my whistle

He’s like the sea to me // Steady, strong, upon the beach // The ocean’s motion leaves it clean // The sand made brand new every morning

I’m like the waves to her // Poseidon’s passion, crashin’ towards and // Dashin’ ‘gainst the rocks on her eastern shore // The lighthouse issuing its warning

Hold me now // As we go ‘round

She’s like a tree to me // A maple, stable and serene // I’m like a train to him // A smoky rush, mighty gust of wind // He’s like the sea to me // Steady, strong, upon the beach // I’m like the waves to her // Poseidon’s passion, crashin’ towards and // Dashin’ ‘gainst the rocks on her eastern shore

A ruby hue up over the hill // Tells me the trees have turned to tinder, the fire is rolling still // And in the night the crimson glow // Sings of 10,000 acres laid to waste in Shenandoah

They say after fire new life will come // But you can’t tell that to the woman burned in the losing of her son // And from the ashes rises something new // Good luck believing in those words when the ashes come for you

This ain’t your fault, you don’t have to fix it // This broken heart is a paper-dry, brittle fern // There ain’t no hope that the smoke is gonna miss us // But won’t you sit with me while I watch the mountain burn

We need rain, to water this dry land // But your bucket’s not gonna touch this wildfire, nothing can // There are no words, nothing you can do // Except to hold my hand and feel the heat until it’s through

This ain’t your fault, you don’t have to fix it // This broken heart is a paper-dry, brittle fern // There ain’t no hope that the smoke is gonna miss us // But won’t you sit with me while I watch the mountain burn

I heard tell that a drink from the well // Is clear and sweet, like a ringing bell // When the bell tolls, it touches my soul // At least that’s what I’m told // I been told there are streets of gold // Ready and waiting for my soul // But my soul sings of a sparrow’s wings, // A packet of seeds, and a set of strings.

I’m gonna bide my time // Ain’t gonna ruffle no feathers // ‘Til I’m ready to fly // Then give me wings

Many a man sets his hand to the shaping of stone in his own homeland // The seed is good, steel strings and wood, // And then there’s a well where a wall once stood // The sparrow’s nest, by the sunset blessed is a harbor, refuge, place of rest // But watchful eyes know the western the skies // She waits for the sign, then away she flies

I’m gonna bide my time // Ain’t gonna ruffle no feathers // ‘Til I’m ready to fly // Then give me wings

There’s a lonesome whistle rattling my door // But it’s been years, and the trains don’t come through anymore // Doesn’t seem to matter, that sound won’t leave me alone // And it’ll be many more years ‘til the Norfolk Southern can carry me home

There’s a creeping darkness under my skin // Though it’s been awhile since the wolf knocked, and I’ve never let him in // Still I cannot change it, cannot change that I am only flesh and bone // And I am bound to wait for the Norfolk Southern to carry me home

The day is long, and I know I’m not strong enough // These feet can’t get the job done // The night moves slow, hear the whistle blow // When’s that train gonna come?

There’s a hungry longing begging my bones // To take me back to a time when I knew my way home // Nothing looks familiar, can’t remember the places I’ve known // So I am left here just hoping the Norfolk Southern can carry me

Sitting on the bank, watch the waters go // Headed up north from the Shenando’ // Try to hold on ‘fore these things all pass // The last are the first when the first go last // The last are the first when the first go last

Night draws near, rain falls hard // These two legs have journeyed far // I pray, “please Lord, take my hand” // I am far from the promised land

Wind on the water and wind in the trees // Wind gonna blow me down to my knees // Blowin’ all the way to kingdom come // Not my will but yours be done // Not my will but yours be done

Night draws near, rain falls hard // These two legs have journeyed far // I pray, “please Lord, take my hand” // I am far from the promised land

I told Peter and I told Paul // That I’d join in the building with my hammer and saw // The water is rushing and the wind does blow // But it’s a long, long walk from the Shenando’ // Oh it’s a long, long walk from the Shenando’

Night draws near, rain falls hard // These two legs have journeyed far // I pray, “please Lord, take my hand” // I am far from the promised land

Are you lost? It begs the question // As you sit there all alone // When you arrive where you're headed // How is it that you'll know?

Desert's dry, there's no rain a comin' // Not a river bed in sight // So I pray to God in Heaven' // Cause my throat and my soul have run dry

I'd take a drink of somethin' stronger to forget a God who isn't near // Said, “Good things will surely find me” // I’m not sure Hope can find me here.

When's that rain finally comin'? // Where are those waters still? // When're we headed towards green pastures // O'er the Jordan, I'll wait until

But for now the desert's dry, there's no rain a comin' // Not a river bed in sight // So I pray to God in Heaven' // Cause my throat and my soul have run dry

When the winter nights were long // I was working on a song // The melody danced sweetly round my head // Then spring came in a rush // And my singing voice was hushed // And now I’m almost out of words again

When the grass began to green // The world appeared serene // And life was bursting forth from things once dead // But me and my love knew // What a dreary day could do // And now we’re almost out of words again

Don't place no roses by my window // I can't see no flowers, and I've felt my share of thorns // I still walk that long dark night // I keep looking for the light // But now I'm almost out of words again

As the summer nights wear on // Long days of work may make me strong // And sweet dreams may come once more to my bed // But if you see my eyes // And they're searching empty skies // That's when I’m almost out of words again

Don’t place no roses by my window // I can’t see no flowers, and I’ve felt my share of thornsI still walk that long dark night // I keep looking for the light // And now I’m almost out of words again // I'll always walk that long dark night, // Keep on looking for the light // Even when I'm almost out of words again

Marylou wore a dress of blue // Cool and crisp as the morning dew // Tried to hide from view all the pain she knew // Trouble was a train come a rolling through

Johnny Greer was the engineer // Saw the rickety rails, knew he better steer clear // But the mind can’t fear what the heart holds dear // Indigo pleats and a runaway tear

Marylou drew nigh with a whispered sigh, // Said, “leave your train, and away let's fly // “Then turned her eye to the raven black sky, // And vanished on the wind without saying goodbye

Trouble was a train come a rolling through

Johnny’s heart awoke with the words she spoke // On the way from Boone to Roanoke // Till then he’ll choke on the billowing smoke // Coming from the train and the fire she stoked

Trouble was a train come a rolling through // Trouble was a train // Trouble was a train come a rolling through // Trouble was a train come a rolling through

Let me take you on a journey back // Back to those hills of North Carolina // Let me take you on a journey back // Back through those years that we would rather forget // I’m not ashamed, even though the trees have placed their blame // Even though the clouds spit on my name // But I cannot cross the Smoky Mountains

We were young and we were so in love // Back in those hills of North Carolina // We were young and we were so in love // We had it all, and we would not let go // We wanted to believe that we could be true // No matter how the winds blew // All across the Smoky Mountains

I run off and left her all alone // Back in those hills of North Carolina // I run off and left her all alone // Without a word to say where I had gone // The smoke will rise from the ashes of a dream that’s died // Drifting up to where the angels fly // All across the Smoky Mountains // The smoke will rise from the ashes of a dream that’s died // Drifting up to where the angels fly // But I cannot cross the Smoky Mountains

Cold and harsh the north wind blows // Deep in the morning early // All the hills are covered with snow // Winter’s now come fairly

When the warm sun’s laid to rest // Underneath night’s cover // Warm we’ll keep ‘til the storm’s passed // Me and my fair lover

Summer, spring, and fall are fine // Green the grass, red the roses // But if I choose one for all time // It’s winter’s arms to hold us

Sippin’ on summer, got a glass from the past, // Pass da tea to me, please; see? I got class // Iced-tea nicely sends me reminiscing to those summer time nights spent summer-time kissing // Listen, I’m not missing the summer snakes hissing // But the bliss of the kiss, mmm, this kid’s wishing his // summer never ended, summer is splendid // Lazing, watching cows grazing, I can recommend it // Spend my summer in the fields, see what they yield // Kneeling, dealing in seeds and stealing out weeds // And feeling the breeze and feeling at ease, come and go as I please // New life is coming, my wife is humming, // Guitar by the stars, I’m sprightly strumming // And nightly hoping, open skies forthcoming, // First star, wish summer-time beat’d keep drumming // Summertime livin' is good for the summertime soul

Come suppertime, I’m summertime grilling // Veggies heavy on my plate, limes summer-time chilling // In my drink, filling up the chinks in my armor left by the shawarma, // Sound the alarm, I’m loving this life, eating out most nights, // Not out in a diner, but the food’s out of sight // Got a table on the porch and it didn’t cost a fortune // Dining al fresca, and living like Gorschwin // Pardon my German, what I meant was Gershwin // George got me singing like a summertime person // “Summertime, and the living is easy, // and I’m primed to keep it light and breezy," // And tonight, though it’s cheesy, let’s dance by the moon // This’ll get you whistling a summertime tune // Toes start tapping when I start rapping // It’s the summertime, honey, so just let it happen // Summertime livin' is good for the summertime soul

I heard Virginia calling me // When I was down in Tennessee // The Smoky Mountains were in between // Me and the Blue Ridge

Whether it’s Asheville, North Caroline // Or Nashville, it will suit me fine // But I won’t be home again ‘til I’m // Back in the Blue Ridge

Blue Ridge Mountains meet me at my door // When I’m tired and I can walk no more // Carry me up Afton, show me what I’m asking for // Blue Ridge Mountains, meet me at my door

Long before she knew my name // I heard her calling all the same // Virginia whispers, “there ain’t no shame in // Loving the Blue Ridge”

Whether from Johnstown or Ohio // Or Michigan’s thumb with its low sky overhead // Seems that every road I know // Leads to the Blue Ridge

Blue Ridge Mountains meet me at my door // When I’m tired and I can walk no more // Carry me up Afton, show me what I’m asking for // Blue Ridge Mountains, meet me at my door

When my walking days are done // Virginia’s gonna carry me into the setting sun // When I rest my weary my bones // Virginia's gonna cradle them as if they were here own

Blue Ridge Mountains meet me at my door // When I’m tired and I can walk no more // Carry me up Afton, show me what I’m asking for // Blue Ridge Mountains, meet me at my door

Honey, life is funny, when it comes to having money // The more you have, the more you seem to need // Yes, the simple life is better, though at times a little wetter // An umbrella’s nice, but getting soaked is free

For the man who has the money, life is always sunny // He’s lounging on his island in the south // But for me, life is much finer in the north of Carolina // When the peaches are lounging in my mouth

Hey, this is life; it’s midnight in the meadow, dancing with the fireflies // C’est, c’est la vie; it’s the little things that mean the most, // And the little things are free

My friend, I see it in your face, I too am weary of the race // Annuities and stocks have me in bonds // Allow me to suggest that we invest in what is best // A lazy restful afternoon down by the pond

Some think a friendly disposition is a medical condition // And you’re crazy if you love somebody else // But I say tell the huddled masses they can bring their sorry glasses // And we’ll fill ‘em to the brim and toast their health

Hey, this is life; it’s rising in the morning, when there are rubies in the sky // C’est, c’est la vie; it’s an old friend on a porch swing, on a chilly summer’s eve // Hey, this is life; it’s the sweet kiss that says it all, welcome home or goodbye // C’est, c’est la vie; it’s the little things that mean the most, // and the little things are free

Way Back Home

Hard Times

A Tree and a Train

Watch the Mountains Burn

Ruffle No Feathers

Norfolk Southern

Far From the Promised Land

Desert's Dry

Almost Out of Words

Trouble was a Train

Smoky Mountains

Cold and Harsh

Summertime Livin'

Blue Ridge Mountains

C'est La Vie