Knoxville Girl

I met a little girl in Knoxville

The town we all know well

And every Sunday evenin'

Out in her home, I'd dwell

We went to take an evenin' walk

About a mile from town

I picked the stick up off the ground

And knocked that fair girl down

She fell out on her bended knees

For mercy she did cry

"Oh Willie, dear, don't kill me here

I'm unprepared to die"

She never spoke another word

I only beat her more

Until the ground around me

Within her blood did flow

I took her by her golden curls

And I dragged her round and round

And threw her into the river

That flows through Knoxville town

Go down, go down, you Knoxville girl

With the dark and rolling eyes

Go down, go down, you Knoxville girl

You can never be my bride

They carried me to Knoxville

They put me in the cell

My friends all tried to get me out

But none could go my bail

I'm here to waste my life away

And time is passing slow

Because I killed that Knoxville girl

The girl that I loved so