I was born in the state of West Virginia
Spent a whole lot of time around this little creek used to run out behind the house
We used to come running off that back porch going swimming, did a lot of fishing
And then the mines moved in

Now Simpson Creek won't never run clean again
Sulfur water runs red where the big fish used to swim
Now the fish all died, and there ain't no summertime swimming hole
Since the men moved in, opened up the hills, started loading coal

Now West Fork River won't never run clean again
At least not from the spot where Simpson Creek dumps in
Yeah, the mines closed up, but the hillsides keep on sliding down
Where the strip mines cut down the trees where there used to be hunting ground

Oh Lord, what have we done to the land you trusted us to run?
The land that fed and clothed us well, we've made an Appalachian hell

Now the Mississippi River can't never run clean again
About every half a mile, another Simpson Creek dumps in
It's the West Fork, Allegheny, Ohio, Mississippi sewer line
America the Beautiful sure is looking fine

Oh, oh Lord, what have we done to the land you trusted us to run?
The land that fed and clothed us well, we've turned it into hungry hell
Oh Lord, what have we done to the land you trusted us to run?
The land that fed and clothed us well, we've made an Appalachian hell

What do we do now, Lord?
Simpson Creek won't never run clean again