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