I need to go down and wash my face Deep in the river of my old homeplace I need to walk in the waters that once gave me life Go over and walk the old railroad tracks See if I can follow it all the way back Back to where my vision is clear Back to the days of the innocent years You know I'd trade it all back in For just one day like it was back then Back before just living my life got in the way To see my face at sixteen again When the boy down the street was my best friend When his smile took away my tears Back in the days of the innocent years. --Chorus-- You might grow wiser every day But there's a price you have to pay The girl I was just disappeared I left her behind in the innocent years --End Chorus-- Now and then when the sun goes down I can see the moon over my hometown I can almost hear the train rushing by I close my eyes and say a prayer To the wide-eyed girl that I lost somewhere Maybe someday she'll find me here And lead me back to the innocent years (chorus) When I get lost along the way And I can't see the light of day I can almost feel her near Calling me back to the innocent years The innocent years.