Nestled in the heart of the Tennessee Hills
Mist peaceful pines midst the rocks and the rills
There stands my old homestead of long long ago
It brings back fond mem'ries of the one I loved so
I courted that maiden so sweet and so fair
With heavenly eyes and with chestnut brown hair
She told me she loved me and that she'll be mine
But I went away leaving her far behind
I'll tell you the reason that I left here there
To roam this old world with its sorrow and care
I saw her one night in the arms of a man just hugging and kissing as two lovers can
I went to my home with a heart full of woe packed my belongings determined to go
For many long years this old world I did roam
With thoughts of my darling my sweetheart my home
While dining one night in a little country town
A stranger walked in and he chanced to sit down
While talking of loved ones I happened to find
That his sister was that old sweetheart of mine
And when he heard my story to me he then said
The one that you loved has a long time been dead
She waited so long for the day that you'd return
And just why you had left her she never did learn
Oh I was the one who you saw that fatal night
All wrapped in the arms of my sister so tight
She loved you so dearly but you broke her heart
Now stranger from her ever more you must part