Tennessee Waltz
Smokey River Boys Lyrics

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I was waltzing with my darlin'
To the Tennesse waltz
When an old friend I happened to see
I introduced him to my loved one
And while they were waltzing
My friend stole my sweetheart from me

I remember the night

And the Tennessee waltz
Now I know just how much I have lost
Yes, I lost my little darlin'
The night they were playing
The beautiful Tennessee waltz

I was waltzing with my darlin'
To the Tennesse waltz
When an old friend I happened to see
I introduced him to my loved one
And while they were waltzing
My friend stole my sweetheart from me

I remember the night
And the Tennessee waltz
Now I know just how much I have lost
Yes, I lost my little darlin'

The night they were playing
The beautiful Tennessee waltz

Overall Meaning

The Tennessee Waltz is a classic country song that was originally penned by Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King in 1946. The song is about a man who is waltzing with his beloved to the tune of the Tennessee Waltz when he sees an old friend. He introduces his friend to his partner, but as they dance, his friend steals his sweetheart away. The song is an acknowledgment of the singer's loss and heartbreak. The lyrics are simple, yet poignant, and the melody is a beautiful, slow waltz.

The Tennessee Waltz has become an iconic song of country music, and it is often associated with the state of Tennessee. It was first recorded by Pee Wee King in 1947, and his version reached number three on the country music charts. Since then, the song has been covered by numerous artists, including Patti Page, who had a number one hit with it in 1950, and Sam Cooke, who recorded a soulful version of the song in 1964. The song has also been featured in several movies and television shows, including The Bridges of Madison County and The Simpsons.

Line by Line Meaning

I was waltzing with my darlin'
I was dancing with my loved one

To the Tennessee waltz
To the music of the Tennessee waltz

When an old friend I happened to see
When I saw an acquaintance who I knew

I introduced him to my loved one
I introduced him to my partner

And while they were waltzing
While they were dancing together

My friend stole my sweetheart from me
My friend took my partner from me

I remember the night
I still recall that evening

And the Tennessee waltz
And the music of the Tennessee waltz

Now I know just how much I have lost
I now understand how much I have lost

Yes, I lost my little darlin'
Yes, I have lost my beloved partner

The night they were playing
The night the music was being played