BANKS OF THE OHIO

I ASKED MY LOVE TO TAKE A WALK
TO TAKE A WALK, JUST A LITTLE WALK
DOWN BESIDE WHERE THE WATWERS FLOW
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE OHIO
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I ONLY SAY THAT YOU'LL BE MINE
AND OUR HOME WILL HAPPY BE
DOWN BESIDE WHERE THE WATERS FLOW
DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE OHIO
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I THREW MY KNIFE ACROSS HER BREST
AS INTO MY ARMS SHE PRESSED
SHE CRIED OH, WILLIE, DON'T MURDER ME
I'M NOT PREPARED FOR ETERNITY

I TOOK HER BY HER LILY WHITE HAND
LED HER DOWN WHERE THE WATERS STAND
THERE I PUSHED HER INTO DROWN
AND WATCHED HER AS SHE FLOATED DOWN

RETURNING HOME 'TWEEN TWELVE AND ONE
I WAS THINKING, WHAT HAVE I DONE?
I MURDERED THE ONLY GIRL I LOVED
BECAUSE SHE WOULD NOT MARRY ME

NEXT DAY I WAS RETURNING HOME
I MET THE SHERIF STANDING AT MY DOOR
HE SAID: YOUNG MAN, COME NOW AND GO
DOWN TO THE BANKS OF THE OHIO