I remember the year that my granddaddy died
Gone, gonna rise again
They dug his grave on the mountainside
Gone, gonna rise again
I was too young to understand
The way he felt about the land
But I could read his history in his hands
Gone, gonna rise again

Well it's corn in the crib and apples in the bin
Gone, gonna rise again
It's ham in the smokehouse and cotton in the gin
Gone, gonna rise again
It's cows in the barn and hogs in the lot
You know, he never had a lot
But he worked like a devil for the living he got
Gone, gonna rise again

These apple trees on the mountainside
Gone, gonna rise again
He planted the seeds just before he died
Gone, gonna rise again
I guess he knew that he'd never see
The red fruit hanging from the tree
But he planted the seeds for his children and me
Gone, gonna rise again

It's high on the ridge above the farm
Gone, gonna rise again
I think of my people that have gone on
Gone, gonna rise again
Like a tree that grows in the mountain ground
The storms of life have cut 'em down
But the new wood springs from the roots in the ground

Gone, gonna rise again
Gone, gonna rise again
Gone, gonna rise again