Well I'm a big fan of John Hartford and UNC Men's Basketball. In some twisted way both passions meet with this song. Needless to say I never found these lyrics anywhere on the web.

What follows is my transcription of "The Boys from North Carolina" from the "A Tribute to John Hartford" Live from the Mountain Stage CD. Please excuse any typo's, your input is appreciated.

THE BOYS FROM NORTH CAROLINA by John Hartford

Some say it comes a rolling down the hollers of Ole Ireland
Not the mountains of East Tennessee from back in North Carolina
The Scottish tones and Indian bones the wails of Railroad liners
They helped along that old time song the boys from North Carolina

Well it road and growed all in the west way out in old Missouri
And then took off around the world like lightning in its furry
There ain't no age you sound to strained in major or in minor
Disappears all in the years
Rings a Laugh through out the tears

Kentucky is the bluegrass state her sunny skies define her
The Western Slope of East Tennessee there nothin' could be finer
The Northern boys that make more noise to pick could not be finer
To make that sound and get it down it helps if you have been around
The boy from North Carolina

Well I stood in line around the block right back here at the Ryman
To hear that lick that old mule kick from the boy from North Carolina
Gastonia to Boiling Springs from Flint Hill back to Charlotte
Still trying to find the place of birth
Still talking about who played it first
Of the boys from North Carolina

Repeat the last verse