On Top of Old Smoky

The Weavers

About On Top of Old Smoky

"On Top of Old Smoky" (often spelled "Smokey") is a traditional folk song of the United States. As recorded by The Weavers, the song reached the pop music charts in 1951. It is catalogued as Roud Folk Song Index No. 414.

Year:: 2005
: 2:43
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The Weavers

The Weavers were an American folk music quartet based in the Greenwich Village area of New York City. They sang traditional folk songs from around the world, as well as blues, gospel music, children's songs, labor songs, and American ballads, and sold millions of records at the height of their popularity. Their hard-driving string-band style inspired the commercial "folk boom" that followed them in the 1950s and 1960s, including such performing groups as The Kingston Trio and Peter, Paul, and Mary. more »

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10 facts about this song

Release Date "On Top of Old Smoky" was released by The Weavers in 1951.
Genre Classification This song falls under the folk and pop genre.
Chart Performance "On Top of Old Smoky" was an impressive hit. It reached No. 2 on the Billboard chart in 1951.
Unique Feature The song employs the use of a banjo, a characteristically folk-instrument, which became a signature instrument for The Weavers.
Origin of Lyrics The lyrics of "On Top of Old Smoky" are based on a traditional folk song from the United States.
Adaptation The melody for "On Top of Old Smoky" is believed to have been adapted from the Appalachian folk tune.
Pete Seeger's Influence Pete Seeger, a member of The Weavers, played a crucial role in popularizing the song and he is particularly known for his banjo arrangement on this song.
Commercial Success This song was one of the biggest commercial successes for The Weavers, selling over a million copies and helping to initiate the folk boom in the early '50s.
Covers The song has been covered by numerous artists since its release, including Bing Crosby and The Everly Brothers.
Song Legacy "On Top of Old Smoky" has been sung for many generations, in schools, around campfires and in homes, becoming an iconic part of American folk music tradition.

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"On Top of Old Smoky Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/12778275/The+Weavers/On+Top+of+Old+Smoky>.

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