On top of old smoky
All covered with snow
I lost my true lover
For courtin' so slow

For courting's a pleasure (for courting's a pleasure)
But parting is grief (but parting is grief)
And a false hearted lover (and a false hearted lover)
Is worse than a thief (is worse than a thief)

A thief will just rob you (a thief will just rob you)
And take what you have (and take what you have)
But a false hearted lover (but a false hearted lover)
Will lead you to the grave (will lead you to the grave)

And the grave will decay you (and the grave will decay you)
Turn you to dust (and turn you to dust)
Not one boy in a hundred (not one boy in a hundred)
A poor girl can trust (a poor girl can trust)

How true
They'll hug you and kiss you (they'll hug you and kiss you)
Tell you more lies (and tell you more lies)
Than cross ties on the railroad (than cross ties on a railroad)
Or stars in the sky (or stars in the sky)

So come all you young maidens (come all you young maidens)
And listen to me (and listen to me)
Never place your affections (never place your affections)
On a green willow tree (on a green willow tree)

For the leaves they will whither (for the leaves they will whither)
The roots they will die (the roots they will die)
You'll all be forsaken (you'll all be forsaken)
And never know why (and never know why)