Hills Of Roane County Lyrics - The Stanley Brothers

In the beautiful hills, in the midst of Roane Country 

There's where I roamed for many long years 

There's where my heart's been tending most ever 

That's where the first step of misfortune I made 

I was about thirty years when I courted and married 

Amanda Gilbraith I then called my wife 

For some unknown reason her brother Tom stabbed me 

Just three months later I'd taken Tom's life 

For twenty five years this whole world I rambled 

I went to old England to France and to Spain 

But I thought of my home way back in Roan Country 

I boarded a steamer and came back again 

I was captured and tried in the village of Spenser 

Not a man in the county would speak one kind word 

When the jury came in with the verdict next morning 

A lifetime in prison were the words that I heard 

When the train pulled out poor mother stood weepin 

And sister she sat all alone with a sigh 

And the last words I heard was Willie God bless you 

Was Willie God bless you, God bless you, good bye 

In the scorching hot sand of [Bamly?] I'm working 

Yes working and toiling my life all away 

They'll measure my grave on the bank of old [Cumberland?] 

Just as soon as I finish the rest of my days 

No matter what happens to me in Roane County 

No matter how long my sentence may be 

Boys when you write home from a sturdy old prison 

Put one of my songs in your letter for me