很久以前，在一个名叫“红河谷”的乡村有一位牛仔小伙子，他暗恋同村的一位姑娘有很长一段时间了。一天小伙突然听说姑娘要离开红河谷了，他悲伤不已，向姑娘唱出了他依依不舍的心情。歌词有三段，分别是这样的：
听说你就要离开红河谷了，我会想念你，想念你明亮的眼睛和甜蜜的微笑，你的离开将带走我们往日所有的欢乐。
要是你爱我，就陪我坐一坐，不要走得那样匆忙。记住红河谷，记住红河谷有一个真心爱你的牛仔。
亲爱的我期待许久了，期待你爱的表白，可你一直没说，现在我的期待已经破灭了，因为你马上就要离开了。
From this valley they say you are going
I will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile
They say you are taking the sunshine
That has brightened our pathway awhile
Come and sit by my side if you love me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
But remember the Red River Valley
And a cowboy who loved you so true
I've been thinking a long time, my darling
Of those sweet words you never would say
Now, alas, all my fond hopes have vanished
They say you are going away
【附记】：从第三段歌词看，歌唱者似乎应该是一位女士，而要离开红河谷的是她一直暗恋的男士，因为只有女人期待男人先主动开口表白爱情才合情合理，而不是倒过来。但由于这首歌年代久远，现已无法考证谁是谁非，甚至连歌中“红河谷”这个村子是在美国还是加拿大，也成为美、加两国乡村音乐界长期争论的话题，至今没有定论。
同样没有定论的就是这首歌的歌词，版本很多，但大体的意思是一样的。以下是我综合各种版本做了一些修改后，比较满意的版本：
From this valley they say you are going
I will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile
For you'll take with you all of the sunshine
That has brightened our pathway awhile
** Come and sit by my side if you love me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
Just remember the Red River Valley
And a cowgirl who loves you so true
I have waited a long time, my darling
For those sweet words you never would say
Now, alas, all my fond hopes have vanished
For they say you are going away
