On top of Old Smokey All covered with snow Lost my true lover, I lost my true lover Courtin' so slow, for courtin' so slow For courting's a pleasure, for courting's a pleasure But parting is grief, but parting is grief And the false hearted lover, and the false hearted lover Worse than a thief, is worse than a thief A thief will just rob you, a thief will just rob you Take what you have, and take what you have A false hearted lover, but a false hearted lover 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 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 a railroad, than the cross ties on a railroad Or stars in the sky, or stars in the sky So, come all you maidens, come all you young maidens And listen to me, and listen to me Never place your affection, never place your affection On a green willow tree, on a green willow tree The leaves, they will wither, for the leaves, they will wither Roots they will die, the roots they will die You'll all be forsaken, you'll all be forsaken Never know why, and never know why