Verse 1 Born where the fog hangs low In a hollow by the Cole Run flow Grew up where the hard times stay Learned the hills don’t play Chorus I ain’t ever gonna change my ways No matter what they say these days Can make me leave or the life I keep I’ll keep on a-ridin’ through the coal-black mud I ain’t ever gonna change my ways Verse 2 Tried to school me in the one-room light Said “Boy, you better learn to read and write” I quit that desk when the springtime came Rode the ridges with a no-name name Chorus I ain’t ever gonna change my ways No matter what they say these days Can make me leave or the life I keep I’ll keep on a-ridin’ through the coal-black mud I ain’t ever gonna change my ways Verse 3 They say I oughta change the way I live Get out and do more than I give But I keep on mowin’ that same old yard And sittin’ on the porch when the days get hard Chorus I ain’t ever gonna change my ways No matter what they say these days Can make me leave or the life I keep I’ll keep on a-ridin’ through the coal-black mud I ain’t ever gonna change my ways Verse 4 Young ones ask how a man stays free I tell ’em the truth by the fire low You get free by what you’ll never give The hills don’t change and neither do I Final Chorus I ain’t ever gonna change my ways No matter what they say these days Can make me leave or the life I keep I’ll keep on a-ridin’ through the coal-black mud I ain’t ever gonna change my ways (Yeah I ain’t ever gonna change my ways)
