I've been a traveler most of my life
Never took a home never became a wife
Ran away young and decided to roam
Then I want to see my mama and my daddy back home

I wanna go back 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

I remember stories that my pappy used to tell
My eyes would get big his chest it really swell
I could sit for hours and listen with joy
As he'd tell of how he lived when he was just a young boy

I wanna go back home where the river runs cold

Mama dear mama do you still love your child
After my roamin' can I could make you smile
Mom sent a letter got it not long ago
It said come home I'm missin' you so

I wanna go back home where the river runs cold
Home where the river runs cold