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