On top of Old Smokey 
All covered with snow 
I lost my true lover 
For a courting too slow 

For courting is a pleasure 
And parting is grief 
And a false hearted lover 
Is worse than a thief 

A thief will just rob you 
And take all you have 
But a false hearted lover 
Will lead you to the 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 cross-ties on a railroad 
Or stars in the sky 

So come all young maidens 
And listen to me 
Never place your affections 
On a green willow tree 

The roots they will wither 
The leaves they will die 
You'll all be forsaken 
And never know why