| Nestled in the heart of the Tennessee hills
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| Midst peaceful pines ‘neath the rocks and the rills
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| There stands my old homestead of long years ago
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| Brings back sweet memories of the one I loved so
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| I courted a maiden so sweet and so fair
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| With pearly blue eyes and with chestnut brown hair
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| She promised to love and said she’s be mine
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| But I went away leaving her there behind
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| I’ll tell you the reason why I left her there
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| To roam this old world with its sorrow and cares
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| I saw her one night in the arms of a man
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| Hugging and kissing as true lovers can
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| I went to my home with a heart full of woe
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| Packed my belongings determined to go
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| For many long years this old world I did roam
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| With thoughts of my sweetheart my darling my own
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| While dining one day in a little country town
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| A stranger came in and he chanced to sit down
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| While talking of loved ones I happened to find
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| That his sister was that old sweetheart of mine
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| Now I am the man who you saw that fateful night
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| Wrapped in the arms of my sister so tight
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| She waited so long for the day you’d return
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| And why you had left her she never did learn
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| When he heard my story to me then he said
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| The one that you loved has a long time been dead
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| She loved you so dearly but you broke her heart
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| Poor stranger, from her ever more you must part |