Circle now
With some money in my pocket, clothes tucked in a sack
Saw mama crying but I wasn't turning back
Left allemande now, turn the partner by the right
Left allemande that corner lady, weave around tonight
The Tennessee backroads in the shadow of the pine
Swing a little lady 'round and promenade in time
I said, "Mama, I still love you but it's not the life for me"
Not growing up in a holler in the hills of Tennessee

Head (side) couples square thru four hands you know
Out to the corner girl now swing thru, go let a boy run right
And now you ferris wheel, those in the middle, you pass thru
And now slide thru, touch 1/4, girl run right
Corner swing, swing a little lady, boy, and promenade that ring
I miss my old home town; no place I'd rather be
Than walking on the back roads in the hills of Tennessee

Circle now
The city wasn't friendly to a country boy like me
The town that I had dreamed of was just a fantasy
Left allemande, now turn the partner by the right
Left allemande that corner lady, weave around tonight
The Tennessee backroads in the shadow of the pine
Swing a little lady 'round and promenade in time
I long for that old dirt road; that's where I want to be
Not growing up in a holler in the hills of Tennessee

Circle now
Packed up my suitcase and packed up my pride
I'm drivin' my old pickup down the mountainside
Left allemande, now turn the partner by the right
Left allemande that corner lady, weave around tonight
The Tennessee backroads in the shadow of the pine
Swing a little lady 'round and promenade in time
When I see my mama, I'll tell her I was wrong
I'm headed back to Dixie, the place where I belong