| On top of old Smokey all covered with snow I lost my true lover for courting too slow For courting's a pleasure and parting's a grief but a false-hearted lover is worse than a thief For a thief will just rob you and take what you have but a false-hearted lover will lead you to the grave And the grave will decay you and turn you to dust not one boy (girl) in a hundred a poor girl (boy) can trust They'll hug you and kiss you and tell you more lies than cross-ties in the railroad or stars in the skies So come all you young lovers and listen to me never place your affection on a green willow tree For the leaves they will wither and the roots they will die you'll all be forsaken and never know why cross-ties = pieces of wood holding railway tracks together. *---------------------------------- .......other version: On top of old Smokey on the mountain so high where the wild birds and turtle doves can hear my sad cry Sparking is a pleasure paritng is a grief but a false hearted lover is worse than a thief They'll tell you they love you to give your heart ease and as soon as your back's turned they'll love who they please I wrote him a letter in red rosy lines he sent it back to me all twisted in twine He says keep your love letters and I'll keep mine you write to your true love and I'll write to mine |
