Way down in the heart of Dixie, just outside the magic city

I lived a childhood dream singing songs in harmony

While Dora Lee would tickle the ivory sounded so sweet

Down in Shady Grove they do believe

You can go away but you never leave

The days of Birmingham

They go with me where ever I am

And as I keep on chasing the sun

I end right back where I come from

The days of Birmingham

Everyone loved Elsie Mae

A pot of butter beans and cornbread

Kept the children fed

I thought that I would always stay

But I fell for a girl who dreamed of Californ-i-a

So we moved out to LA

Down in Shady Grove they do believe

You can go away but you never leave

The days of Birmingham

They go with me where ever I am

And as I keep on chasing the sun

I end right back where I come from

The days of Birmingham

Fishing poles made out of sticks

And baby dolls that were made out of bricks

And pine pole slides for kicks

Play some bar on a Saturday night

And Sunday morning sing for Jesus Christ

He is a friend of mine

What a friend we have in Jesus

Yes, he is a friend of mine