Nestled in the heart of the Tennessee hills
There 'neath 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 soI'll tell you the reason why I left her there
To roam this old world with it's sorrow and care
I saw her one night in the arms of a man
Hugging and kissing as two lovers canI 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 ownWhile 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 mineWhen 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 learnNow 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