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On Top of Old Smokey
[unknown] Lyrics

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ON TOP OF OLD SMOKY

On top of old Smoky, all covered with snow
I lost my true lover from courting too slow

Though courting's a pleasure and parting is grief
A false-hearted lover is worse than a thief

For a thief will just rob you and take what 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 thousand a poor girl can trust

He'll hug you and kiss you and tell you more lies
Than cross-ties on a railroad or stars in the skies

Recorded by Ives
@love
filename[ OLDSMOKY

SF
===DOCUMENT BOUNDARY

Overall Meaning

"On Top of Old Smoky" is a traditional folk song that has been passed down through generations, and many artists including The Weavers, Burl Ives, and Doc Watson have performed it. The lyrics of the song draw from the common themes of love, loss, and betrayal. The song starts by describing a snowy landscape on top of Old Smoky and how the singer has lost their true lover. The singer blames their own slow courtship for the loss of their lover, suggesting that courting too slowly can have disastrous consequences. The second verse warns against false-hearted lovers, who are worse than thieves because they can lead you to the grave. The third verse goes on to describe how a false-hearted lover will cover you with hugs, kisses, and lies more numerous than the stars in the sky and railroad ties. Finally, the song ends with a somber note, saying that a poor girl cannot trust any boy.

The lyrics of "On Top of Old Smoky" are open to interpretation, with many possible meanings and themes. Some suggest that the song is a warning against the dangers of love, while others see it as a lament for lost love. The reference to Old Smoky, a mountain in the Appalachians, adds a sense of place to the song and makes it relatable to a specific region and culture. The somber melody and lyrics make it a popular choice for funerals and memorials.

Line by Line Meaning

On top of old Smoky, all covered with snow
I was on top of Old Smoky, which was completely covered with snow.

I lost my true lover from courting too slow
I lost my true lover because I did not court them at the proper pace or quickly enough.

Though courting's a pleasure and parting is grief
Courting can be a delightful experience, but the act of separating or parting ways can bring about great sorrow.

A false-hearted lover is worse than a thief
A lover who is deceitful and insincere is even more damaging than a common thief.

For a thief will just rob you and take what you have
A thief will simply steal your belongings and possessions.

But a false-hearted lover will lead you to the grave
On the other hand, a lover who is untruthful will put you on a path towards death and ruin.

The grave will decay you and turn you to dust
Death will cause your body to decay and turn to dust.

Not one boy in a thousand a poor girl can trust
It is very difficult for a young girl to find a boy who she can trust out of a large group of males.

He'll hug you and kiss you and tell you more lies
Despite their deceptions, a false-hearted lover will still show affection by hugging and kissing you and telling you more lies.

Than cross-ties on a railroad or stars in the skies
In fact, they will tell you even more lies than there are railroad cross-ties or stars in the sky.

Contributed by Penelope Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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