ON TOP OF OLD SMOKEY

Original version

On top of Old Smokey, all covered with snow
I lost my true lover, for courting too slow

For courting's a pleasure, but parting is grief
And a false-hearted lover, is worse than a thief

A thief will just rob you, and take what you have
But a false-hearted lover, will lead you to your grave

The grave will decay you, and turn you to dust
Not one boy in a hundred a poor girl can trust

They'll hug you and kiss you, and tell you more lies
Than crossties on a railroad, or stars in the sky

So come ye young maidens, and listen to me
Never place your affection in a green willow tree

For the leaves they will wither, the roots they will die
And you'll be forsaken, and never know why

Page last updated: 14 Aug 2006

This traditional folk song from the United States appeared as early as 1911. Pete Seeger and his band, The Weavers, recorded their arrangement of the song on 21 Feb 1951. It was released as a single on the Decca Records label (Decca 27515). It reached #2 on the Billboard chart and sold over a million copies. This brought the song back into the American pop music mainstream.

The song can now be found on several of Seeger's releases, including:

• Folk Songs For Young People (2000 - Smithsonian/Folkways SFW CD 45024)
• American Favorite Ballads Vol. 1 (2002 - Smithsonian/Folkways).
• Weavers: The Best Of The Vanguard Years (2001 - Vanguard)

The above lyrics refer to the original version of the song. Check also Bruce Springsteen's live 25 Oct 1980 version.