On Top of Old Smokey
The Weavers Lyrics
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All covered with snow
I lost my true lover
For courtin' so slow
For courting's a pleasure (for courting's a pleasure)
But parting is grief (but parting is grief)
And the false hearted lover (and the false hearted lover)
A thief will just rob you (a thief will just rob you)
And take what you have (and take what you have)
But a false hearted lover (but a false hearted lover)
Will lead you to the grave (will lead you to the grave)
And the grave will decay you (and the grave will decay you)
Turn you to dust (and turn you to dust)
Not one boy in a hundred (not one boy in a hundred)
A poor girl can trust (a poor girl can trust)
They'll hug you and kiss you (they'll hug you and kiss you)
Tell you more lies (and tell you more lies)
Than cross ties on a railroad (than cross ties on a railroad)
Or the stars in the sky (or stars in the sky)
So come all you young maidens (come all you young maidens)
And listen to me (and listen to me)
Never place your affection (never place your affection)
On a green willow tree (on a green willow tree)
For the leaves they will wither (the leaves they will wither)
And roots they will die (the roots they will die)
You'll all be forsaken (you'll all be forsaken)
And never know why (and never know why)
"On Top of Old Smokey" is, in reality, a breakup song. The chorus of the song is the most recognizable part: "For courting's a pleasure, but parting is grief / And the false-hearted lover is worse than a thief." The singer is lamenting his lost love, blaming his slow courting for the separation. The verses speak to the heartbreak of losing someone, from being robbed of joy to the doom of the grave. The last stanza warns young women to avoid love for the wrong reasons, such as the temporary feelings of infatuation associated with a green willow tree that withers and dies.
The song has roots in the Appalachian region of the United States, but it became more widely known when it was covered by The Weavers in the late 1940s. Pete Seeger, one of the group's members, is credited with the song's most well-known lyric: "I lost my true lover, for courting too slow." "On Top of Old Smokey" is a perfect song to sing when you're feeling brokenhearted, as it captures the sensation of loss and grief that comes with a relationship's dissolution.
The song's origin is unknown, but it is believed to have originated in Appalachia. It has become a classic, with many artists recording their versions of it, including Burl Ives, Hank Thompson, and Johnny Cash. The melody has been used in various commercials and children's shows. The song's message - that abandoned love is the worst type of grief - resonates with people centuries after it was first written.
Line by Line Meaning
On top of old Smokey
On the peak of a snowy mountain
All covered with snow
The mountain is covered with snow
I lost my true lover
I lost my beloved partner
For courtin' so slow
Because I took too long to court them
For courting's a pleasure (for courting's a pleasure)
The process of courting someone is enjoyable
But parting is grief (but parting is grief)
But separating from someone you love is painful
And the false hearted lover (and the false hearted lover)
And a partner who is unfaithful
Is worse than a thief (is worse than a thief)
Is more treacherous than a criminal
A thief will just rob you (a thief will just rob you)
A criminal will only take what you have
And take what you have (and take what you have)
And steal your possessions
But a false hearted lover (but a false hearted lover)
But an unfaithful partner
Will lead you to the grave (will lead you to the grave)
Will eventually cause your death
And the grave will decay you (and the grave will decay you)
And your body will decompose in the grave
Turn you to dust (and turn you to dust)
And you will become nothing but dust
Not one boy in a hundred (not one boy in a hundred)
Only a small percentage of men
A poor girl can trust (a poor girl can trust)
Can be trusted by a woman without means
They'll hug you and kiss you (they'll hug you and kiss you)
They will embrace and kiss you
Tell you more lies (and tell you more lies)
And tell you many falsehoods
Than cross ties on a railroad (than cross ties on a railroad)
More lies than there are railroad ties
Or the stars in the sky (or stars in the sky)
Or stars in the sky
So come all you young maidens (come all you young maidens)
Attention all young women
And listen to me (and listen to me)
Pay attention to my advice
Never place your affection (never place your affection)
Do not give your love
On a green willow tree (on a green willow tree)
To someone who will not reciprocate
For the leaves they will wither (the leaves they will wither)
The leaves on the tree will wither and die
And roots they will die (the roots they will die)
And the tree's roots will die
You'll all be forsaken (you'll all be forsaken)
You will all be abandoned
And never know why (and never know why)
And you will not understand why
Lyrics © Hansa Musik Verlag, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SAMUEL H. POTTLE, JAMES M. HENSON, DP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ben Frank
we had this on a 78rpm record twe played on our wind up gramophone ... being the youngest sibling I had to do most of the winding :)
Chris Wideman
They played this song and the other weaver songs on my hometown radio station WCRS 1450AM (Greenwood SC) this morning. Rare occasion this song is played on the radio nowadays.
Phensri Wood
My birth year! The good old days.
Ramao
Waos
Tempest Fugit
me my dad my sister my mum loves this song DID IT SAY A THEIF WILL ROB YOU LIKE CHUCKY HES A KILLER DOLL
Tempest Fugit
they repeat what he sais
Steve Hunter
This was the way they would sing live. Pete Seeger would say the lyrics so the audience could sing along.
Coop68
no shit.
Succulent Cranberry
My dad is gay