Tragic Romance
The Stanley Brothers Lyrics

Nestled in the heart of the Tennessee hills
The singer sets the scene of his old homestead in the Tennessee hills.

Midst peaceful pines Ã?'neath the rocks and the rills
The homestead is surrounded by serene trees, rocks, and streams.

There stands my old homestead of long years ago
The homestead still remains after many years and reminds the singer of his past.

Brings back sweet memories of the one I loved so
The homestead also reminds the artist of his former lover.

I courted a maiden so sweet and so fair
The artist describes the woman he was in love with as lovely and beautiful.

With pearly blue eyes and with chestnut brown hair
The woman had striking blue eyes and brown hair.

She promised to love and said she's be mine
The woman promised to love the singer and be his partner.

But I went away leaving her there behind
Despite her promise, the artist left the woman behind and went away.

I'll tell you the reason why I left her there
The artist explains his reasons for leaving the woman behind.

To roam this old world with its sorrow and cares
The artist wanted to explore the world despite its hardships and sadness.

I saw her one night in the arms of a man
The singer saw his former lover with another man.

Hugging and kissing as true lovers can
The woman was holding and kissing the man as a couple would.

I went to my home with a heart full of woe
The singer returned home feeling sad and pained.

Packed my belongings determined to go
The singer decided to leave and set off on his travels.

For many long years this old world I did roam
The singer spent many years traveling throughout the world.

With thoughts of my sweetheart my darling my own
Despite his travels, the woman he loved was always on his mind.

While dining one day in a little country town
The artist sets the scene of a small town where he was having a meal.

A stranger came in and he chanced to sit down
A stranger joined the singer at his table.

While talking of loved ones I happened to find
During their conversation, the singer discovered something about the stranger's family.

That his sister was that old sweetheart of mine
The stranger revealed that his sister was the woman the artist had loved.

Now I am the man who you saw that fateful night
The artist reveals that he was the man his former lover saw in the arms of another woman.

Wrapped in the arms of my sister so tight
The artist confesses that he was holding his own sister.

She waited so long for the day you'd return
The woman had been waiting for the singer to come back for a long time.

And why you had left her she never did learn
The woman never found out why the artist had left her.

When he heard my story to me then he said
After hearing the singer's story, the stranger spoke to him.

The one that you loved has a long time been dead
The stranger revealed that the woman the singer had loved had died a long time ago.

She loved you so dearly but you broke her heart
The woman had loved the singer deeply, but he hurt her and broke her heart.

Poor stranger, from her ever more you must part
The artist expresses sympathy for the stranger who will never see his sister again.