Well, 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 want to see my mama and my daddy back home Home, where the river runs cold The water tastes good, the waters ain't cold Where the trees grow tall The home fires burn, the whippoorwills call I remember stories that my pappy used to tell My eyes would get big and his chest would really swell I could sit for hours and listen with glee As he'd tell of how he lived when he was a boy like me Home, where the river runs cold The water tastes good, the winters ain't cold Home, where the trees grow tall The home fires burn, the whippoorwills call Mama, dear mama, do you still love your boy? After all my roaming, can I still bring you joy? Mom sent a letter, got it not long ago She said, come home, I'm a-missing you so Home, where the river runs cold The water tastes good, the winters ain't cold Home, where the trees grow tall The home fires burn, the whippoorwills call