I was born on this mountain a long time ago ‘fore they knocked down the timber and strip-mined the coal. When you rose in the mornin' before it was light, Go down in that dark hole and 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 but now I am old, And I knew every holler, every cool swimmin' hole Till one night I lay down and woke up to find That my childhood was over; I went down in the mine. (Chorus) Instrumental break There's a hole in this mountain; it's 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’s ghosts in the tunnels that the company sealed. (Chorus)