on top of old smokey all covered with snow i lost my true lover for courting too slow for courting s a pleasure and parting s a grief and a false hearted lover is worse than a thief for a thief will just rob you and take all you save but a false hearted lover will lead you to the grave and the grave will decay you and turn you to dust not one girl in a hundred a poor boy can trust they ll hug you and kiss you and tell you more lies than cross lines on a railroad or stars in the skies so come all your maidens and listen to me never place your affections on a green willow tree for the leaves they will wither and the roots they will die you ll all be forsaken and never know why