I was born on this mountain, a long time ago Before they knocked down the timber and they strip-mined the coal When you rose in the mornin', before it was light To go down in that dark hole, come back up at night I was born on this mountain, this mountain's my home And she holds me and keeps me from worry and woe Well, they took everything that she gave, now they're gone But I'll die on this mountain, this mountain's my home I was young on this mountain, now I am old And I knew every hollow, every cool swimmin' hole 'Til one night I lay down and woke up to find That my childhood was over, I went down in the mine And she holds me and keeps me from worry and woe Well, they took everything that she gave, now they're gone But I'll die on this mountain, this mountain's my home There's a hole in this mountain, dark and it's deep And God only knows all the secrets it keeps There's a chill in the air, only miners can feel And there're ghosts in the tunnels that the company sealed I was born on this mountain, this mountain's my home And she holds me and keeps me from worry and woe Well, they took everything that she gave, now they're gone But I'll die on this mountain, this mountain's my home