On Top of Old Smoky

On top of Old Smoky,

all covered with snow.

I lost my true lover

by parting too slow. Parting is

pleasure,

parting is grief. And a false-hearted true

love is worse than a thief. A

thief can but rob you

and take what you have.

But a false-hearted true love will take

you to your

grave. The grave will decay you

and turn you to dust.

There ain't one girl out of

twenty that a poor boy can trust.

They will tell you they love you to give

your heart

ease. But as soon as your

back's turned, they'll go to make pleas.

It's a-raining, it's a-hailing,

the moon gives no light. Your horses can't

travel this dark, lonesome night.

So put up your horses

and feed them some hay.

Come sit you down by me

as long as you stay.

My horses ain't hungry.

They won't eat your

hay. So fare you well, darling.

I'll be on my way. I will drive on to

Georgia and write to my mind.

My mind is to marry and leave you

behind. Your parents is against me.

Mine is the same.

If I'm down on your book of love,

please rub off my

name.

I go up on Old Smoky, on the mountain so

high. Where the wild birds and true love

can hear my sad cry. As soon as the

dewdrops grow on the green lawn.

Last night she was with me,

tonight she is gone. Now I can love

little or I can love long.

I can love an old sweetheart 'til a new

one comes

along. I can hug, I can kiss them,

and prove to them kind. I can turn my back

on them and go to my

mind.