Tennessee has brought right onto my knees The pretty boys of Memphis has made fool out of me Times are hard in Nashville, the cash I had is gone I left my can in Carolina, this land is not my home I meant to leave not before the river run Like I'm Carolina Bound I'm Carolina Bound I burn to prove the mountains through the blue, blue smoke I let these folks change me, and re-write And that's what hurts the most The days have turned to weeks The months have turned to years Is long past time I return to my kinds I'll be damned if dying here I meant to leave not before the river run Like I'm Carolina Bound I'm Carolina Bound