Click here for an online copy of the Starlight on the Rails songbook by Bruce "Utah" Phillips. Unfortunately, the graphics are missing - but I imagine they'll come back.
As far as I know, "Green Rolling Hills" is the only song Utah Phillips wrote about anything east of the Mississippi. Anybody know of others?

-Joe-

---

Here are the five verses printed in the Rise Up Singing songbook. Note that only the chorus and first two verses (in bold) were written by Bruce "Utah" Phillips, and the first verse in the Rise Up Singing songbook is slightly different from the original.

GREEN ROLLING HILLS (OF WEST VIRGINIA)
(Utah Phillips)

CHORUS:
The green rolling hills of West Virginia
Are the nearest thing to heaven that I know
Though the times are sad and drear and I cannot linger here
They'll keep me and never let me go

1. My daddy said don't ever be a miner,
For a miner's grave is all you'll ever own,
Well it's hard times everywhere, I can't find a dime to spare.
These are the worst times I've ever known."
CHORUS

2. So I'll move away into some crowded city,
In some northern factory town you'll find me there .
Though I'll leave the past behind, I will never change my mind,
These troubled times are more than I can bear.
CHORUS

3. Well I traveled to a crowded northern city,
So far away and lonesome from my home;
There were no jobs anywhere, and I could not linger there;
So I started out once more to search and roam.
CHORUS

4. While traveling all around the open country,
Finding people in the same sad shape as me,
This one lonely thought came clear, we've nothing left to fear,
We must fight and win the battle to be free.
CHORUS

5. But someday I'll go back to West Virginia
To the green rolling hills I love so well.
Yes, someday I'll go home and I know I'll right the wrongs,
And these troubled times will follow me no more.
CHORUS

verses 3 & 4 were written by S. Worcester; verse 5 by Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard.