[1] Nestled in the heart of the [4] Tennessee hills
[5] Midst peaceful pines midst the rocks o'er the [1] rills
There lives the old homestead of [4] long long ago
It [5] brings back fond memories of the one I loved [1] so

I courted a maiden so fair and so pure
With heavenly eyes and all chestnut brown hair
She told me she loved me and said she'd be mine
But I went away leaving her there to roam

I'll tell you the reason why I left her there
To face this old world in its sorrows and cares
I saw her one night in the arms of a man
A-hugging and kissing as true lovers can

I went to my home with a heart full of woe
I 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

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'd heard my story to me he then said
The one that 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 am the man who you saw that fateful night
Wrapped in the arms of my sister so tight
She loved you so dearly but you broke her heart
Poor stranger from her ever more we must part