It's been ten long years, since I left my home
In the holler where I was born
Where the cool fall nights, make wood smoke rise
And the fox hunter blows his horn

I fell in love with a girl from the town
I thought that she would be true
I ran away to Charlottesville
And worked in a sawmill or two

Now the girl ran off with somebody else
The tariffs took all my pay
And here I stand where the old home stood
Before they took it away

Now the geese fly south and the cold wind blows
As I stand here & hang my head
I've lost my home
I've lost my love & now I wish that I were dead

Chorus: What have they done, to the old homeplace
Why did they tear it down?
And why did I leave the plow in the field
And look for a job in the town?