In the land of Nero I used to live and dwell;

voiceCollected by Charley B. Davis For Mary C. Parler Transcribed by Frances Majors Sung by Fred High High, Arkansas November 24, 1958 Reel 279, Item 5 The Waxweed Girl In the land of Nero I used to live and dwell; 'Twas in the town of Waxward I owned a flour mill. I fell in love with a Waxward girl, And she in love with me; I asked her to marry me, 'Twas at her own comply. We was to meet down at her sister's house At nine o'clock that night, And take a walk down by the river side, Our wedding to provide. We walked over hills and valleys Till we come to level ground; I upped with a fence stake; I knocked the fair maid down. She fell all to her bended knees, Oh, Johnny, oh Johnny, she cried, Oh, Johnny, Johnny, don't murder me here, For I'm not prepared to die. He took no heed to the dying calls, But laid it on the more, Till the ground all around him Was covered with bloody mud. He taken her by the flaxen hair And dragged her around and around; And he throwed her in the river That run through Waxward Town. Lie there, lie there, you Waxward girl, Lie there, lie there, he cried; Lie there, lie there, you Waxward girl, To you I'll never be tied.The Waxweed Girl (Cont'd) Reel 279, Item 5 (Cont'd) He walked all back to his mother's house At eleven o'clock that night; His mother being in trouble, He raised a tearful fright. My son, my son, what have you done That's bloodied up your hands and clothes? The answer that he give her, Been bleeding at the nose. He first called for a candle To light him off to bed; And next for a napkin To wrap around his head. He groaned upon his pillow, No peace, no rest could he find; For the flames of Hell shined around him And the Waxward girl behind. Six long days and six long nights Before this maid was found, Found floating down by her brother's door Away down in Lawford town.Funding for digitization provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council and the Happy Hollow Foundation