Roscoe Holcomb - "On Top of Old Smokey" [Official Audio]

Listen to the official audio of Roscoe Holcomb's "On Top of Old Smokey" from the 1962 album 'Music of Roscoe Holcomb and Wade Ward' on Smithsonian Folkways.
'Music of Roscoe Holcomb and Wade Ward' is available on CD and digital.
Stream/download/purchase:
Smithsonian Folkways: folkways.si.edu/roscoe-holcom...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/7G0vsq...
This album presents two musicians whose experiences are similar-both play banjo, usually locally at community social functions, and come from farming backgrounds-but whose playing styles are noticeably different. Holcomb (from Daisy, Kentucky) plays wilder music, while Ward (from Independence, Virginia) has developed a smoother style.
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©2008 Smithsonian Institution

[@hendrikniehaus7747]

All on old Smokey, all covered with snow
I lost my own true lover by courting too slow
It's courting it is pleasure, and parting is grief
The false-hearted true lover is worse than a thief
They'll hug you, they will kiss you, they will tell you more lies
Than the crossties in the railroad or the stars in the skies
It's ashes to ashes and dust is to dust
One boy in a hundred that a poor girl can trust
I'll build me a log cabin on top of some rise
Where the wild geese and the pretty women can hear my sad cry
Your parents they are against me, they say I'm too poor
They say I ain't worthy of entering your door
They say I drink whiskey, my money is my own
And if they don't like me, they can leave me alone

[@mangawhio1]

This is the essence of .... Jeez, who cares? Roscoe Holcombe and Wade Ward, a pairing made in musical heaven. Thank you!

[@AlvisaMinidoruv]

Best version of this song ever.

[@BananaJoe414]

I love it...great tune :-))))

[@oneirogmophobia82]

true that

[@melvinwren]

i like the melody of this version

[@melvinwren]

swear i had a car accident listening to this song about 9 years ago.

[@stigandr5]

Hot damn! Now that, THAT is high lonesome sound.

[@JustClaude13]

It's an interesting construction. The first half is mostly Old Smoky, the last half is Jack O' Diamonds and the tune I don't recognize at all.

[@OptimusKind]

Burl who?