Well the back water is up and folks are running
Going up a mountain, I’m a going hunting
The Cumberland river sure is a running
Fare thee well, oh my little darling and I’m gone.

Oh my love the lonesome road
Oh my love it’s a lonesome road.

Well I saw a ma talking to a feller
The water was a rising in his cellar
Rising anymore it’s coming through the floor
Fare thee well, oh my little darling and I’m gone.

Oh my love the lonesome road
Oh my love it’s a lonesome road.

Well two little children riding in the bed
The water was a rising over their head
Their mothers in town, she was never found
Wasn’t that bad, oh my little darling wasn’t that bad.

Oh my love the lonesome road
Oh my love it’s a lonesome road.

Well I love you and you can’t help it
You love me but you won’t confess it
What you say this winters day
Fare thee well, oh my little darling and I’m gone.

Oh my love the lonesome road
Oh my love it’s a lonesome road.

Well the back water is up and folks are running
Going up a mountain, I’m a going hunting
The Cumberland river sure is a running
Fare thee well, oh my little darling and I’m gone.