Burl Ives - On Top Of Old Smokey lyrics

On top of old smokey

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