The green rolling hills of West Virginia Are the nearest thing to heaven that I know Tho the times are sad and drear And I cannot linger here They’ll keep me and never let me go My daddy said don’t ever be a miner For a miner’s grave is all you’ll ever own ’Cause the hard times everywhere I can’t find a dime to spare These are the worst times I’ve ever known The green rolling hills of West Virginia Are the nearest thing to heaven that I know Tho the times are sad and drear And I cannot linger here They’ll keep me and never let me go So I’ll move away into some crowded city In some northern factory town you’ll find me there Tho I’ll leave the past behind I’ll never change my mind These troubled times are more than I can bear The green rolling hills of West Virginia Are the nearest thing to heaven that I know Tho the times are sad and drear And I cannot linger here They’ll keep me and never let me go But someday I’ll go back to West Virginia To the green rolling hills I love so well Yes someday I’ll go home And I know I’ll right the wrong These troubled times will follow me no more Yes someday I’ll go home And I know I’ll right the wrong These troubled times will follow me no more