G                Em7 
    You ought to go north somebody told us
              C                   G 
    Cause the air is filled with gold dust
        Em7                 C                   G 
    And fortune falls like snow flakes in your hands
           Em7 
    Now I don't recall who said it
             C                 Bm 
    But we'd lived so long on credit
              C             D                  G 
    And so we headed out to find our promised land
    
               Em7 
    Just poor Smoky Mountains farm folk
           C                G 
    With nothing more than high hopes
            Em7                C          G 
    So we hitched our station wagon to a star
            Em7 
    But our dreams are failing on us
                C                Bm 
    Cause there was no land of promise
                   C             D                   G 
    Though it's a struggle just keepin' sight of who you are
    
                  Em7                 Bm 
    Oh and these northern nights are dreary
           C                 Bm 
    And my southern heart is weary
           C             Am                 Gmaj7 
    As I wonder how the old folks are back home
           Em7                Bm 
    But I know that they all love me
               C                Bm7 
    And they're all thinking of me
    C                   Am7                G 
       Smoky Mountains memories keep me strong
    
                     Em7 
    You know I've been thinkin' a whole lot lately
                 C              G 
    About what's been and what awaits me
             Em7                C              G 
    It takes all I've got to give what life demands
             Em7 
    You go insane if you give in to it
             C                   Bm 
    Life's a mill and I've been through it
              C               D             G 
    I'm just thankful I'm creative with my hands
    
    
                  Em7                   Bm 
    Oh and these northern nights they're dreary
           C                 Bm 
    And my southern eyes are teary
           C             Am                 Gmaj7 
    As I wonder how the old folks are back home
                  Em7            Bm 
    But I'll keep leanin' on my Jesus
            C                Bm 
    He'll love and guide and lead us
    C                   Am7                G 
       Smoky Mountains memories keep me strong
    
                  Em7            Bm 
    If I'll keep looking to the father
        C              Bm          C 
    Keep our heads above the water
                     Am7              D           G 
    While the Smoky Mountains memories keep me strong