Hello, Ohio, the back roads,
I know Ohio like the back of my hand,
Alone, Ohio, where the river bends,
And it's strange to see your story end.

In my life I've seen a thousand dreams through the threshers all torn to pieces,
And the land lay bare,
Someone turned a profit there,
And a good son lost his life in a strip pit.

Hello, Ohio, the back roads,
I know Ohio like the back of my hand,
Alone, Ohio, where the river bends,
And it's strange to see your story end.

When the sun went down, we would all leave town and light our fires in the Egypt Bottom,
And the reservoir was just as good for Joni,
'Cause we knew we would dream out loud in the night air.

Holly said, 'Don't go inside the children's home,'
Mary said, 'Don't leave your man alone,'
Valerie was singing to the radio,
Ohio.

It was summertime in '83,
We were burning out at the rubber tree, yeah,
Wondering what in the world would make all this worthwhile,
And if I knew then, oh, I was older then,
Would I see regret to the last mile'

Hello, Ohio, the back roads,
I know Ohio like the back of my hand,
Alone, Ohio, where the river bends,
And it's strange to see your story end,
How I hate to see your story end,
It's so sad to see your story end.