I look out on the grey of New York City To see some children playing in the snow Central Park in winter should look pretty But New York ain't a place for kids to grow And my memory takes me back again to winters that I've seen Fields and wooded hills where snow could fall and keep its clean Where I'd wake unto the wonder of the West Virginia morning City boy, country born And I watch the garbage scows plow up the river Filled with things New Yorkers throw away I watch the skinny dipping children and I shiver Lord, that Hudson River ain't no place to play And my memory takes me back again to rivers that I've seen Lazy country rivers that just flow and feed the green You can fish 'em, you can drink 'em, you can swim 'em when you're warm City boy, country born And I see the heart at New York City mothers As they hurry home across the Brooklyn Bridge To feed their children dixie cups of instant coffee And frozen TV dinners from the fridge And my memory takes me back again to dinners that I've seen Home cured crispy bacon, buttered corn, and country beans And a cup of mama's coffee, cooking stoves that kept me warm City boy, country born Oh, big city boy, country born