Nestled in the heart of the Tennessee Hills

There neat the pines midst the rocks and the rills

There stands my old homestead of long long ago

It brings back sweet memories of the one I loved so

I'll tell you the reason why I left her there

To roam this old world with its sorrow and care

I saw her one night in the arms of a man 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 sweetheart my darling my own

[ fiddle ]

While dining one day 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

When he heard my story to me then he said

The one you left there has a long time been dead

She waited so long for the day you'd return

And why you had left her she never did learn

Now I was the one who you saw that fatal night

Wrapped in the arms of my sister so tight

She loved you so dearly but you broke her heart

Stranger from her ever more you must part