Shady grove my true love
Shady grove my darlin’
Shady grove my true love
Going back to Harlan

Once I was a pretty little boy
Playing in the sand
Now I am a great big boy
Think myself a man

I made myself a banjo
Made it out of pine
The only song that it would sing
Trouble on my mind
Trouble on my mind

I went out a walkin’
A talk one day
I chanced upon my own true love
She passed my way

Shady grove my true love
Shady grove my darlin’
Shady grove my true love
Going back to Harlan