In the cold winter rain
On a wild mountain road
Came a sound like thunder
Screaming from below
In the shack where I live
Came a knock upon the door
She sent Willie to tell me
She ain't coming back no more

And I ain't never been the same
And I guess I never will
I ain't never been the same
And that's just the way I feel
The way I feel

Almost Christmas in the Highlands
And the snow in coming down
I swing my axe, split my wood
And I gather things around
For the long lonely season
Laying straight ahead
As I lay lonely longing
To hold you in this bed

And I ain't never been the same
And I guess I never will
I ain't never been the same
And that's just the way I feel
The way I feel

Now the Earth is showing colors
And birds are in the trees
I till my ground, plant my corn
And take honey from the bees
Willie heard from her Mother
Just a short time ago
She married Herschel from the city
That guy my Brother used to know

And I ain't never been the same
And I guess I never will
I ain't never been the same
And that's just the way I feel
The way I feel