ON  TOP  OF  OLD  SMOKEY

Time signature:  3/4
​
Traditional  American
UNDER CONSTRUCTION:  Everything needs to be checked.
ACCORDION (BUTTON) NOTATION
Beats per bar = 3   (waltz)
Beat symbol =  Dot  ( . ) or equivalent
​Either row (high) =  Buttons 6 to 9
Either row (low)   =  Buttons 3 to 6

​Verse 1 (of 8 or more)

 .6   |   .6     .7   .8    |    .:9     |   .:9*~ | ~:
 .3   |   .3     .4   .5    |    .:6     |   .:5*~ | ~:
On    top  of  old    smok -  ey____ 

 .9*   |   .8*     .8       .9*   |   .:8~ | ~.:~ | ~: 
 .5*   |   .4*     .5       .5*   |   .:5~ | ~.:~ | ~:
All      cov - ered  with      snow______

.6   |   .6     .7     .8   |   .:8   |   .:7*~ | ~:
.3   |   .3     .4     .5   |   .:5   |   .:3*~ | ~:
  I      lost  my  true     lov  -   er_____  

   "7*   "7    |     .8*       .7      .7*   |   .:6~ | ~.:~ | ~:
   "3*   "4    |     .4*       .4      .3*   |   .:3~ | ~.:~ | ~:    
From    a       court - ing     too        slow_____
​
​GUITAR (STRUMMING) NOTATION    
To sound in Keys of C or G: Follow the appropriate colour below.
To sound in Keys of D, Eb, E, or F:  Place capo at Fret 2, 3, 4, or 5, and strum in key of C
To sound in Keys of A, Bb, or B:  Place capo at Fret 2, 3, or 4, and strum in key of G
Verse 1 (of 8 or more)

 G                            C
 C                            F
On  top   of   old  smok-ey

                                   G
                                   C
All  cov-ered  with  snow

                           D7
                           G7
I  lost  my  true  lov-er  

                                         G     C     G
                                         C      F     C   
From  a  court-ing  too  slow_____
​Embedded youTube VIDEOS
Seventeen videos in the keys:   A=2    Bb=1    B=1     C=4     D=3     Eb=1    E=1    F=1     G=3
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:  A

​Tempo:  ~135 bpm

Group:   Abba

Posted by:  MrABBACollection

This ABBA performance consists of a number of repeats the first two verses.
Key:  Bb

​Tempo:  ~155 bpm
​
Singer:  Gene Autry

Posted by: Gene Autry

Uses some of the verses given on this page (below), and includes three additional verses.
​
Key:  B

​Tempo:  ~160 bpm

Group:  The Weavers

Posted by:  jukejointjohnny48

Recorded in 1951
Key:   C

​Tempo:  ~160 bpm

Singer:   Wilf Carter

​Posted by:  WilfCarterFan

​
Key:  C

​Tempo:  ~80 bpm ?

Singer:  Burl Ives

Posted by:  philsmusic1000

Some different verses.
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:  Eb

​Tempo:  ~160 bpm

Group:  Percy Faith and His Orchestra
             with Burl Ives

​Posted by:  SpazioSonoro &
                   Intrattenimento

​Includes seven of the eight verses below.
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:  ~140 bpm

Group:   ?

​Posted by:  phuong nguyen

​Instrumental  (Karaoke)
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

​
Background Links:
Click HERE for additional info about this song.  (Wikipedia)