Button-Accordion Tunes 2 Play 4 Fun
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    • BA1-main
    • BA2-main
    • BA3-main
    • BA4-main
    • BA5-main >
      • BA5-Unit 4 >
        • I walk the line
        • I saw three ships
        • Norwegian Wood
        • Home_on_the_range
        • Blessed_Assurance
        • Down_in_the_valley
        • Heave_away
        • Old flames
        • Wonderful_words_of_life
        • Connemara Cradle
    • BA6-main
  • Canada
    • NL - newer >
      • Candlelight_and_Wine
      • Fishing_in_a_dory
      • Grey foggy day
      • Joe Batt's Arm longliners
      • Loss of the Marion
      • Music and friends
      • Northern Lights of Labrador
      • Outport people
      • Rose in her hair.
      • Rubber_boots
      • Saltwater joys
      • Song for Newfoundland
      • Sonny's dream
      • Surrounded_by_water
      • Take me to the country
      • The St. John's Waltz
      • This Is My Home
      • Towards_the_sunset
      • Woman of Labrador
    • NL - older >
      • Badger_drive
      • Cliffs of Baccalieu
      • Feller from Fortune
      • Great big sea hove in ...
      • Harbour Le Cou
      • I'se The B'y
      • Jack was every inch a sailor
      • Kelligrew's Soiree
      • Let me fish off Cape St Mary's
      • Lukey's boat
      • Now I'm 64
      • Ode to Newfoundland
      • Old Brown's daughter
      • Old Polina
      • Paddy and the whale
      • Ryans and Pittmans
      • Squid jiggin' ground
      • Star of Logy Bay
      • Sweet forget-me-not
      • Tiny Red Light
    • OTHER - newer >
      • Both_sides_now
      • Did_she_mention_my_name
      • (The) Farmer's Song
      • Four strong winds
      • I'm movin' on
      • Log_drivers_waltz
      • Make_n_Break_Harbour
      • Sea-People
      • Song-for-Mira
      • Working-man
    • OTHER - older >
      • Bluebird
      • Farewell_to_NS
      • Maggie
      • O Canada
      • Peggy Gordon
      • Red River Valley
    • Christmas Songs >
      • (A) Children's Winter
      • Christmas_fancy
      • Christmas in the harbour.
      • Marys_lullaby
      • Mummers song
      • Old_Christmas_waltz
    • BY "EAR" >
      • Bluebirds_sing
      • Capelin time
      • From an island to an island
      • Land_and_Sea_Theme
      • Land_of_fish_and_seals
      • Light and Power Boys
      • (The) Music takes me back
      • Mussels in the corner
      • Newfoundland_waltz
  • USA
    • USA - newer >
      • Adios_Amigo
      • Annie's song
      • Ballad of the Green Berets
      • Blowing in the wind
      • Blue eyes crying in the rain
      • Bridge over troubled water
      • Bye bye love
      • Country roads
      • Crystal Chandeliers
      • Far-Side Banks of Jordan
      • Four thousand years ago
      • Have I told you lately that I ...
      • I can't stop loving you
      • I overlooked an orchid
      • I recall a gypsy woman
      • I walk the line
      • Me and Bobby McGee
      • Missing in action
      • Moon River
      • Old flames
      • Rambling Rose
      • Ring_of_fire
      • Roses are red my love
      • Send me the pillow ...
      • Try _a_ little_kindness
      • Waltz across Texas
      • What a wonderful world
      • You're my best friend
    • USA - older >
      • America the beautiful
      • Billy_Boy
      • Careless_love
      • Down_in_the_valley
      • Hammer_song
      • Happy Birthday
      • Home_on_the_range
      • My grandfather's clock
      • Oh, what a beautiful morning
      • Old_lamplighter
      • Old_Smokey
      • Shenandoah
      • Star-Spangled Banner
      • Streets of Laredo
      • Tennessee_waltz
      • This land is your land
      • Wabash cannon ball
      • We shall overcome
      • Wildwood flower
      • Worried man blues
      • Yellow_Rose_of_Texas
      • You are my sunshine
    • Christmas Songs >
      • An old Christmas card
      • Frosty the Snowman
      • Here comes Santa Claus
      • Jingle Bells
      • Jolly old St. Nicholas
      • Must be Santa
      • Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
      • Silver Bells
    • BY "EAR" >
      • Edelweiss
      • If I should fall behind
      • Mary Ann regrets
      • Oh so many years
      • You're the nearest thing to Heaven
  • World
    • Australia - older >
      • Waltzing_Matilda
    • (The) Bahamas >
      • Sloop_John_B
    • England - newer >
      • Bread_and_Fishes
      • Fiddler's Green
      • Let it be
      • Let me be there
      • Norwegian Wood
      • Streets_of_London
      • World_of_our_own
    • England - older >
      • Dirty_old_town
      • Drink to me only ...
      • Girl_I_left_behind
      • Heave_away
      • It's a long way to Tipperary
      • Jerusalem
      • Long_long_ago
      • Navvy_boots
      • Scarborough Fair
    • Germany- newer >
      • A_little_peace
    • Germany- older >
      • Brahms_lullaby
    • Ireland - newer >
      • After all these years
      • (The) Ferryman
      • Fields of Athenry
      • Gypsy Rover
      • My lovely Rose of Clare
      • Nancy Spain
      • Roads of Kildare
      • Rose of Mooncoin
      • Town_of_Ballybay
    • Ireland - older >
      • Black velvet band
      • Come back Paddy Reillly
      • Connemara Cradle
      • Danny Boy
      • Galway Bay
      • Galway Shawl
      • Home by Bearna
      • Irish washerwoman
      • Maid in the Garrett
      • Molly Malone
      • My wild Irish Rose
      • Red_is_the_rose
      • Rocky Road to Dublin
      • Rose of Aranmore
      • Wild_Colonial_Boy
      • Wild Rover
    • Norway >
      • You_raise_me_up
    • Scotland - newer >
      • Come by the hills
      • It's a dream come true
      • Mull of Kintyre
      • We'll meet again my friends
    • Scotland -older >
      • Auld Lang Syne - New Year's
      • Comin' through the rye
      • Loch_Lomond
      • Miari's Wedding
      • My_Bonnie
      • Road to the isles
      • Wild mountain thyme
    • Wales-older >
      • The Ash Grove
      • Sweet_Jenny_Jones
    • Mixed origins >
      • Jolly good fellow
    • Christmas Songs >
      • Christmas in Killarney
      • Deck the hall
      • Good_King_Wenceslas
      • We wish you a Merry Christmas
    • BY "EAR" >
      • Among the Wicklow Hills
      • Beautiful Sunday
      • Hills of Glenshee
      • In an Irish country home
      • It's good to see you
      • Love me when I'm old ...
      • My homeland
      • The little shirt my Mother made for me
      • Going out the same way you came in
  • Dance Tunes
    • Jig family >
      • Auntie Mary (Cock of the North)
      • Father O'Flynn
      • Garryowen
      • Haste to the wedding
      • Hundred Pipers
      • Irish washerwoman
      • The Kesh
      • Larry O'Gaff
      • Pop Goes The Weasel
      • Up_the_pond
    • Reel family >
      • Aunt_Rubys_garden
      • Aunt_Rubys_garden (guitar)
      • I rowed up in a dory
      • Maple-sugar-reel
      • Maxwell's rant
      • Pretty_little_Mary
    • Marches >
      • Banks of Newfoundland (Up the Pond)
      • Cock of the North (Auntie Mary)
  • Gospel
    • Songs - newer >
      • Because He lives
      • God on the mountain
      • He touched me
      • I_know_who_holds_tomorrow
      • It is no secret
      • May_the_Good_Lord_bless
      • Millenium Prayer
      • One day at a time
      • 'Till the storm passes by
      • Unclouded Day
      • Will you walk with me
      • Wings of a dove
    • Songs - older >
      • Beautiful isle of somewhere
      • Church in the wildwood
      • Count your blessings
      • Do Lord
      • Give me oil for my lamp
      • Higher ground
      • How beautiful Heaven must be
      • I'll fly away
      • In the sweet by and by
      • Just a closer walk with Thee
      • Keep on the Sunny Side
      • Kum ba yah
      • Let_the_lower_lights
      • Life is like a mountain railroad
      • Mine eyes have seen the glory
      • Precious memories
      • Shall we gather at the river
      • Standing in the need of prayer
      • Stranger of Galilee
      • When the roll is called up yonder
      • When the Saints go marching in
      • Whispering hope
    • Hymns - newer >
      • Give_to_us_laughter
      • Here I am Lord
      • How great Thou art
      • Jesus you have come to the lakeshore
      • Morning has broken
      • Pass it on
      • Spirit, Open My Heart
      • Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness
    • Hymns -older >
      • All people that on earth
      • Amazing Grace
      • Be Thou My Vision
      • Blessed_Assurance
      • Crown_Him_with_many_crowns
      • For_the_beauty
      • In the garden
      • I love to tell the story
      • Immortal_invisible
      • Jesus loves me
      • Joyful, joyful, We ...
      • Make_Me_A_Channel_Of_
      • Precious_Lord_take_my_hand
      • Softly and tenderly
      • Take time to be holy
      • Trust and Obey
      • We love the place O God
      • What a Friend we have in Jesus
      • Will your anchor hold
      • Wonderful_words_of_life
    • Christmas Carols >
      • Away in a manger (JRM)
      • Away in a manger (WJK)
      • The First Noel
      • The friendly beasts
      • Go, tell it on the mountain
      • Hark the herald angels sing
      • I heard the bells (Marks)
      • I saw three ships
      • Joy to the world
      • Mary's Little Boy Child
      • O come, all ye faithful
      • O little town of Bethlehem
      • Silent Night
      • When a child is born
    • BY "EAR" >
      • Lord, don't give up on me
  • Kids
    • Billy_Boy
    • BINGO
    • (My Darling) Clementine
    • Frere Jacques
    • If you're happy
    • London_Bridge
    • Mary had a little lamb
    • Pop Goes The Weasel
    • Twinkle little star
    • Where has my little dog gone

ON  TOP  OF  OLD  SMOKEY

Traditional  American
​
ACCORDION (BUTTON) NOTATION
Return to BA5 - Unit 1
Beats per bar = 3   (waltz)
Beat symbol =  Dot  ( . ) or equivalent
Either row (low)   =  Buttons 3 to 6
Tapping pattern =  |  B  C  C  |


​Verse 1 (of 8 or more)

 .3    |   .3    .4   .5     |    .:6     |   .:5*~ | ~:
On      top  of  old       smok  -   ey____ 

 .5*   |    .4*     .5       .5*    |   .:5~ | ~.:~ | ~:
All       cov - ered  with       snow______

.3    |   .3     .4     .5    |   .:5   |   .:3*~ | ~:
  I       lost  my  true      lov  -   er_____  

   .4    |     .4*    .4     .3*   |   .:3~ | ~.:~ | ~:    

From    court-ing   too     slow_____
​


The first note(s) at beginning of lines 4 are
simplified in this version for beginners  practicing
the “3 beats / bar” (bass-chord-chord) pattern.

 
​Embedded youTube VIDEOS
Eleven videos in the keys:   A=1    C=3     D=3     E=1    F=1     G=2
These videos contain many different arrangements of lyrics, and some differences in tempo and rhythm.  Most are sung to the same melody, as given above for the button accordion.

Key:  A

​Tempo:  ~155 bpm

Singer:  Rex Allen

​Posted by:  Rex Allen - Topic

Key:   C

​Tempo:  ~160 bpm

Singer:   Wilf Carter

​Posted by:  WilfCarterFan

​

Key:  C

​Tempo:  ~100 bpm?

Singer:  Michael Sundell

​Posted by:  Michael Sundell


Key:  C

​Tempo:  ~85 bpm?

Guitarist:  Duane Eddy

Posted by:  Duane Eddy - Topic

Guitar Instrumental - Nice and slow, great for the beginner to play along with.

Key:  D

​Tempo:  ~75 bpm ?

Group:  Mitch Miller &
             The Sing-Along Gang

Posted by:  Mitch Miller & 
​                  The Sing-Along Gang - Topic
​

Key:   D

​Tempo:  ~135 bpm 

Singer:  Matthew Sabatella

Posted by:  Matthew Sabatella - Topic

Uses six of the verses given on this page (below);  last two are different.


Key:   D

​Tempo:  ~75 bpm ?

Group:  Chisholm Trailers

Posted by:  Chisholm Trailers - Topic

Violin and Piano Instrumental.

Covers four verses.
​

Key:  E

Tempo:  ~95 bpm


Singer:  Odetta

​Posted by:  ​Odetta - Topic

Truly beautiful rendition!
​
​Odetta Holmes (1930 – 2008), was an American singer, actress, guitarist, lyricist, and a civil and human rights activist, often referred to as "The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement". (wikipedia)

Key:   F

​Temp;o:  ~150 bpm


Singer:  Don Bailey

​Posted by:  ​Don Bailey - Topic

Includes seven of the eight verses given below.

Key:   G

​Tempo:  ~155 bpm

​
Singers:   Ernest ?
                 Sarah ?

​Posted by:  ​bidyyy

Bluegrass sound.



Key:   G

Tempo:  ~115 bpm


Pianist:  ?

​Posted by:  ​musicalintentions

Piano Instrumental.

This video is intended for the beginner piano student, and is fairly easy to play along with on the button accordion.

 
Background Materials, Information & Links

​Lyrics:
























On top of old smokey
All covered with snow
I lost my true lover
For a courtin' too slow

For courting's a pleasure
And parting is grief
But a false-hearted lover
Is worse than a thief

For a thief will just rob you
And take all you have
But a false-hearted lover
Will lead you to the grave

And the grave will decay you
And turn you to dust
And where is the lover
​A poor one can trust


They'll hug you and kiss you
And tell you more lies
Than the cross-ties on a railroad
Or the stars in the skies

They'll tell you they love you
Just to give your heart ease
But the minute your back's turned
They'll court whom they please


Come all you young lovers
And listen to me
Never place your affections
On a green willow tree

For the leaves they will wither
And the roots they will die
You'll all be forsaken
And never know why


There are many other verses (including parodies)
An extra verse (her & him versions) for those who prefer a happier ending:

So if you have a true love                            So if you have a true love
Who will stand by your side                        Who'll hold onto your hand
He'll love you forever                                    She'll love you forever
And make you his bride                                And make you her man

​
Go to Top of Page
Return to BA5 - Unit 1
Background Links:
Click HERE for additional info about this song.  (Wikipedia)