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.
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.
