On top of smoky, all covered with snow
I lost my true-lover from courting too slow
For courting's a pleasure, and parting's a grief
But a false-hearted true-love is worse than a thief
A thief can but rob you, and take what you have
But false-hearted true-love will send you to your grave
The grave will decay you, and turn you to dust
No one girlin a hundred that a poor boy can trust
They'll tell you they love you, to give your heart ease
As soon as your back's turned they'll do as they please
They'll hug you and kiss you and tell you more lies
Than there's cross-ties on a railroad, or stars in the skies
It's raining it's hailing the moon give no light
My horse, he can't travel this dark stormy night
I'll put up my horses, and feed them some hay
And sit down beside you for as long as I may
My horses aren't hungry, they won't eat your hay
So farewell, my little darling, I'll feed long the way
I'll drive down to Georgia, then write you my mind
My plan is to marry, and leave you behinde
As sure as the dew drops will fall on the corn
I'll say good-bye darling, and then I'll be gone
I'll climb up on old smokey, that old mountain so high
Where the whipoorwills and the turtle-doves can hear my sad cry