Oh once I was a young man
Looked over vales and hills
Saw myself a future
Of riches and of thrills
But on me fifteenth birthday
I paid my union dues
And they sent me deep into the ground
Oh the winter wind can blow me colder
Oh the summer's heat can parch me dry
But I'll not leave here for a fortune
I shall never leave here till I die
Oh once I had a family
Sons to make you proud
They have gone and left me now
And I count the time out loud
For now I am an old man
Just waiting for my turn
Till they take me back into the ground
Oh the winter wind can blow me colder
Oh the summer's heat can parch me dry
But I'll not leave here for a fortune
I shall never leave here till I die
Oh the winter wind can blow me colder
Oh the summer's heat can parch me dry
But I'll love these dark, dark hills forever
And I won't leave them until I die
Oh once I loved a woman
She meant all she world to me
Saw ourselves a future
As far as I could see
But I was only forty-seven
When they took her down from me
And buried her deep
BILLY
Oh the winter wind can blow me colder
Oh the summer's heat can parch me dry
But I'll love these dark, dark hills forever
And I won't leave them now until I die