“Paradise,” a poignant song, tells a tale of irreversible change and longing for a past idyllic landscape. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of Muhlenberg County and the Green River, juxtaposing cherished childhood memories with the stark reality of environmental degradation caused by coal mining. This song resonates deeply with themes of nostalgia, loss, and the impact of industrial progress on natural beauty.
When I was a child my family would travel
Down to Western Kentucky where my parents were born
And there’s a backwards old town that’s often remembered
So many times that my memories are worn
“And daddy won’t you take me back to Muhlenberg County
Down by the green river where paradise lay?”
“Well, I’m sorry my son, but you’re too late in asking
Mister Peabody’s coal train has hauled it away”
Well, sometimes we’d travel right down the Green River
To the abandoned old prison down by Adrie Hill
Where the air smelled like snakes and we’d shoot with our pistols
But empty pop bottles was all we would kill
“And daddy won’t you take me back to Muhlenberg County
Down by the green river where paradise lay?”
“Well, I’m sorry my son, but you’re too late in asking
Mister Peabody’s coal train has hauled it away”
Then the coal company came with the world’s largest shovel
And they tortured the timber and stripped all the land
Well, they dug for their coal till the land was forsaken
Then they wrote it all down as the progress of man
“And daddy won’t you take me back to Muhlenberg County
Down by the green river where paradise lay?”
“Well, I’m sorry my son, but you’re too late in asking
Mister Peabody’s coal train has hauled it away”
When I die let my ashes float down the Green River
Let my soul roll on up to the Rochester dam
I’ll be halfway to Heaven with paradise waitin’
Just five miles away from wherever I am
“And daddy won’t you take me back to Muhlenberg County
Down by the green river where paradise lay?”
“Well, I’m sorry my son, but you’re too late in asking
Mister Peabody’s coal train has hauled it away”
The repeated chorus, “And daddy won’t you take me back to Muhlenberg County / Down by the green river where paradise lay?” underscores the central longing for a lost paradise. The poignant reply, “Well, I’m sorry my son, but you’re too late in asking / Mister Peabody’s coal train has hauled it away,” serves as a stark reminder of the irreversible environmental damage. The train, symbolizing industrialization and progress, has taken away the paradise, leaving behind a sense of regret and loss. The song’s verses contrast innocent childhood memories with the harsh reality of environmental destruction, highlighting the trade-off between progress and natural beauty. The final verse offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that even in death, a piece of paradise might still be attainable, albeit in memory and spirit, connected to the Green River. These “Paradise Song Lyrics” serve as a powerful environmental ballad, urging reflection on the cost of industrial advancement and the irreplaceable value of natural landscapes.
