I've been a traveler most of my life never took a home never took a wife

Ran away young and decided to roam

I wanna see my mama and my daddy back home

Home where the river runs cold the water tastes good the winters ain't cold

Home where trees grow tall the homefires burn and the whippoorwills call

[ ac.guitar ]

I remember stories that my pappa used to tell

My eyes get big and my chest begin to swell

I could sit for hours and listen with glee

As he'd tell of how he lived when he's a boy like me

Home where the river runs cold...

[ ac.guitar ]

Well mama dear mama do you still love your boy

After all my roamin' can I still bring you joy

Mom sent a letter got it not long ago it said come home I'm a missin' you so

Home where the river runs cold...