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