Burl Ives
On Top Of Old Smokey
ON TOP OF OLD SMOKEY
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
AND A FALSE HEARTED LOVER IS WORSE THAN A THIEF
FOR A THIEF WILL JUST ROB YOU AND TAKE ALL YOU SAVE
BUT A FALSE HEARTED LOVER WILL LEAD YOU TO THE GRAVE
AND THE GRAVE WILL DECAY YOU AND TURN YOU TO DUST
NOT ONE GIRL IN A HUNDRED A POOR BOY CAN TRUST
THEY'LL HUG YOU AND KISS YOU AND TELL YOU MORE LIES
THAN CROSS LINES ON A RAILROAD OR STARS IN THE SKIES
SO COME ALL YOUR MAIDENS AND LISTEN TO ME
NEVER PLACE YOUR AFFECTIONS 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