Verse 1
Em 
A lilac comes on a poisoned thorn 
       C               Em 
In a dress dirty and torn 
            C                         Em 
Young-uns a playin' as the black crow flies 
       D                           Em 
Mama's weeping; hear the mountains cry. 
 
Verse 2
Em 
There was another, a wild dirt flower 
             C                    Em 
Cold was her heart and as dark as dire 
             C                         Em 
Tears on the ground where her love did die 
                  D                        Em 
'Neath the bloody moon; hear the mountains cry. 
 
(fiddle break) 
 
Verse 3
Em 
Oh dig his grave narrow and deep 
             C                      Em 
Set a jug of whiskey by his thirsty feet 
            C                     Em 
And lay two pennies on his roving eyes 
           D                       Em 
Two women wailing as the mountains cry. 
 
Coda
                  C                     Em 
Oh the wind blows weary and the willows sigh 
           D                        Em 
Rivers of sorrow when the mountains cry. (x2)