Paradise

Often referred to as “Muhlenburg County” — a region in Kentucky devastated by strip mining practices — Paradise is John Prine’s signature song from his 1971 debut album. A well-rounded Folkslinger should make it a point to learn several of his tunes. Most all other musicians know this tune and like to play it.

Use your capo to locate the most comfortable key for your voice.

RIGHT-CLICK TO DOWNLOAD LYRICS WITH CHORD CHART in the chord family of G

Check out John Prine’s original version:

Who would have guessed? Check out John Denver’s version: 

Paradise

Written by John Prine 1971

1
When I was a child, my family would travel
Down to Western Kentucky where my parents were born
There’s a backwards old town that’s often remembered
So many times that my memory is worn

Sing this chorus after every verse:

Oh, 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
Mr. Peabody’s coal train has hauled it away

2
Well, sometimes we’d travel on down the Green River
To the abandoned old prison down by Avery Hill
Where the air smelt like snakes and we’d shoot with our pistols
But empty pop bottles was all we would kill

3
Then the coal company came with the world’s largest shovel
They tortured the timber and stripped all the land
They dug for their coal till the land was forsaken
Then they wrote it all down as the progress of man

4
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