In the beautiful hills, way back in 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 But her brother stabbed me for some unknown reason 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 Kingston 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 was the words that I heard When the train pulled out poor mother stood weepin And sister she sat 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 Sweet Martha was grave but Corey was better There's better and worse, although you can see Boys when you write home from the prison in Nashville Place one of my songs in your letter for me?