The song tells a dark, folk-style story about a beautiful, innocent young woman known as the "Mountain Angel" who is seduced and then abandoned by a "wicked, handsome stranger".
A prominent live recording is featured on the 2004 album Live and Well , recorded during her performance at the Dollywood Celebrity Theatre. Where to Listen
The woman retreats into the wilderness, eventually losing her sanity. Locals begin to view the former "angel" as a witch as she roams the hills making mournful sounds.
The song ends with her death upon her baby's grave, though her spirit is said to haunt the mountains forever. Key Releases Studio Version: Found on the Little Sparrow album (2001).
Rumors suggest she had a "devil's child" that died, and the grief eventually led to the death of her parents.
is a tragic bluegrass ballad written and performed by Dolly Parton. It was originally released as the ninth track on her 2001 album, Little Sparrow . Song Story and Meaning