You ought to go north somebody told us   Cause the air is filled with gold dust   And fortune falls like snow flakes in your hands   Now I don't recall who said it   But we'd lived so long on credit   And so we headed out to find our promised land      Just poor Smoky Mountains farm folk   With nothing more than high hopes   So we hitched our station wagon to a star   But our dreams all fell in on us   Cause there was no land of promise   Though it's a stuggle just keepin' sight of who you are      Oh and these northern nights are dreary   And my southern heart is weary   As I wonder how the old folks are back home   But I know that they all love me   And they're all thinking of me   The Smoky Mountains memories keep me strong      You know I've been thinkin' a whole lot lately   About what's been and what awaits me   It takes all I've got to give what life demands   You go insane if you give in to it   Life's a mill and I've been through it   I'm just thankful I'm creative with my hands      Oh and these northern nights they're dreary   And my southern eyes are teary   As I wonder how the old folks are back home   But I'll keep leanin' on my Jesus   He'll love and guide and lead us   The Smoky Mountains memories keep me strong      If I'll keep looking to the father   Keep our heads above the water   While the Smoky Mountains memories keep me strong