On Top of Old Smoky
Love's Betrayal: A Ballad of Heartbreak
Lyrics
On top of old smoky
Reflects on a location called "Old Smoky."
All covered with snow
Describes Old Smoky as being covered with snow.
I lost my true lover
The singer lost their true lover.
For courtin' so slow
Attributed the loss to slow courtship.
For courting's a pleasure (for courting's a pleasure)
Courtship is pleasurable.
But parting is grief (but parting is grief)
Highlights the grief of parting.
And a false hearted lover (and a false hearted lover)
Emphasizes the negativity of a false-hearted lover.
Is worse than a thief (is worse than a thief)
States a false-hearted lover is worse than a thief.
A thief will just rob you (a thief will just rob you)
Compares a thief robbing to a false-hearted lover.
And take what you have (and take what you have)
Describes a thief taking possessions.
But a false hearted lover (but a false hearted lover)
Reiterates the negativity of a false-hearted lover.
Will lead you to the grave (will lead you to the grave)
Warns that a false-hearted lover can lead to one's demise.
And the grave will decay you (and the grave will decay you)
Describes the decay and turning to dust in the grave.
Turn you to dust (and turn you to dust)
Continues the theme of mortality and decay.
Not one boy in a hundred (not one boy in a hundred)
Suggests a lack of trustworthy boys for poor girls.
A poor girl can trust (a poor girl can trust)
Highlights the difficulty of trusting a lover.
How true
A brief expression of agreement or acknowledgment.
They'll hug you and kiss you (they'll hug you and kiss you)
Warns about false affection and deception.
Tell you more lies (and tell you more lies)
Indicates that false lovers will tell more lies.
Than cross ties on the railroad (than cross ties on a railroad)
Compares the lies to the abundance of cross ties on a railroad.
Or stars in the sky (or stars in the sky)
Compares lies to the abundance of stars in the sky.
So come all you young maidens (come all you young maidens)
Addresses young maidens, advising them to listen.
And listen to me (and listen to me)
Encourages caution in placing affections.
Never place your affections (never place your affections)
Warns against choosing a lover under a green willow tree.
On a green willow tree (on a green willow tree)
Advises against relationships symbolized by a dying willow tree.
For the leaves they will whither (for the leaves they will whither)
Describes the withering leaves and dying roots of the willow tree.
The roots they will die (the roots they will die)
Continues the imagery of decay and death.
You'll all be forsaken (you'll all be forsaken)
Predicts being forsaken without understanding why.
And never know why (and never know why)
Reiterates the theme of abandonment and lack of understanding.
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