Old Kentucky river
‘Cross the county line
Through the morning sunshine
You flow to Caroline
Old Kentucky river
I recall a time
On your bank of bluegrass
Caroline was mine
Between the tick and the tock
Of a grandfather clock
You never thought would chime
There’s a gate that brings change
So painfully strange
It’s finally tomorrow time
Jet engines sing on silvery wings
Bluegrass below the clouds
Between head and heart
I fought from the start
Now I called your name out loud
Old Kentucky river
‘Cross the county line
Through the morning sunshine
You flow to Caroline
Old Kentucky river
I recall a time
On your bank of bluegrass
Caroline was mine
Chestnut hair, in the morning sun
A crown of fiery red
On a pillow made of fallen leaves
Upon an autumn bed

The young girl of the night before
Now sings a woman’s song
And the words she sang to me
Is “In love there’s nothing wrong”
Old Kentucky river
‘Cross the county line
Through the morning sunshine
You flow to Caroline
Old Kentucky river
I recall a time
On your bank of bluegrass
Caroline was mine