Lyrics

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 ball 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 Barb'ry 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 ball 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