Based on the traditional "Young Man's Lamentation", a Knoxville, Tennessee busker known as "The Blind Musician Of The Smoky Mountains" George Reneau recorded "On Top Of Old Smoky" in 1925 at a NYC studio. This isn't the melody associated with the song now.

Featuring a melody from the traditional "Little Mohee" and a Pete Seeger arrangement, The Weavers and Terry Gilkyson peaked at number two on the Billboard chart in 1951 with "On Top Of Old Smoky". The single sold over a million copies.

Tom Glazer and The Do-Re-Me Children's Chorus reached number fourteen in 1963 with the parody "On Top Of Spaghetti" (Tom Glazer). It was Tom who wrote the lyrics to "Melody Of Love" and "Skokiaan" posted elsewhere on this blog.