Down in the town they call Oxford I owned a flour mill,

VoiceCollected by Mary Shand Transcribed by M. C. Parler James Turner Elkins, Ark. September 30, 1963 Reel 423, Item 1 The Oxford Girl Down in the town they call Oxford I owned a flour mill, I taken a liking to an Expert girl With a dark and rooling eye. I made my mind to marry this girl If me she didn't deny. I galled at that girl's sister's house At eight o'clock that night. I thought we'd have a pleasant chat And 'point the wedding day. We walked along, we talked along, Till me met the level ground. A stick of wood was in my hand, I knocked that fair girl down. I knocked her to her bending knees, 0 lord, Mercy, she cried, 0 Jody dear, don't murder me here; For I'm not prepared to die. Still I did not say a word, But still I beat her more, Till blood was flowing around And kivered with a gore. I caught her by her golding locks And I whirled her round and around, I threw her in the water That flowed through Oxford Town. I came home about twelve o'clock, My mother woke in a fright, Saying, Son, my Son, what have you done, What have you done to bloody your hands and clothes? And the answer that it's I give her Was bleeding at the nose. I asked her for a candle To light me off to bed; Also it's for a napkin To bind my aching head. In my rook I rolled, I tossed, No comfort could I find. For flames of hell was around my bed, And in my eyes did shine, In about six weeks this this fair girl was found, Flowing down by her brother's door, Way down in Oxford town. They took me up on 'spicion, They locked me up in jail, No one to entertain me No one to go my bail. Her sister was yhe very one That swore my life away. There is no one no doubt, She swore I was the very one That called her sister out.Funding for digitization provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council and the Happy Hollow Foundation