Twenty years 'fore the Depression
Peter Thompson staked his claim
In a little mountain town
Canton was her name
Told everyone that was willin'
Steady work would be their reward
So they started makin' paper
Where the Pigeon River forks
But this ain't just another papertown on a random riverside
She was built with blood, sweat, and tears and a whole lot of pride
From the mountains and the farmlands
'Round the smokestack she has grown
This ain't just another papеrtown, it's the one that I call home
Whеn Wall Street was crashin'
The mill kept goin' strong
While Hitler's war was ragin'
Everyone worked twice as long
There's been mergers and sellouts
Layoffs when times got tough
Talks about pollution
Then cleanin' the river up
This ain't just another papertown somewhere along the tracks
She's seen her share of ups and downs and always bounces back
From the mountains and the farmlands
'Round the smokestack she has grown
This ain't just another papertown, it's the one that I call home
She put food on the table, cars on the highway
Sent kids off to college bound to do things their own way
Through every generation, her influence is clear
She's taken care of young and old for over a hundred years
This ain't just another papertown, it's part of who I am
Molded me as a little boy so I could be a better man
From the mountains and the farmlands
'Round the smokestack she has grown
This ain't just another papertown, it's the one that I call home
This ain't just another papertown, it's the one that I call home