Far away on a hill to sunny mountain side
Many years ago we parted, my little Ruth and I
From the sunny mountain side

She clung to me and trembled when I told her we must part
She said, 'Don't go my darling, it almost breaks my heart
To think of you, so far apart'

Carry me back to old Virginia
Back to my clinch mountain home
Carry me back to old Virginia
Back to my old mountain home

I fold my arms around her, leaned her head upon my breast
I told her I would wed her when I came back from the west
At my old clinch mountain home

In my hand I hold a picture of the old home far away
In the other one my sweetheart I'm thinking of today
On the sunny mountain side

Carry me back to old Virginia
Back to my clinch mountain home
Carry me back to old Virginia
Back to my old mountain home

My mother's old and feeble, my father's getting gray
I'm going back to Virginia and I expect to stay
At my old, clinch mountain home

Carry me back to old Virginia
Back to my clinch mountain home
Carry me back to old Virginia
Back to my old mountain home