I fell in love with a Knoxville girl,

voiceCollected by Mrs. Laura Willie For Mary C. Parler Transcribed by Frances Majors Sung by Mrs. Maxine Hite Prairie Grove, Arkansas January 9, 1959 Reel 264, Item 23 The Knoxville Girl I fell in love with a Knoxville girl, With a black and roguish eye; I promised that I'd marry her, Some night with me she'd fly. I went into her mother's room At twelve o'clock that night, But little did her mother think I held her in despite. I asked her to walk with me And view the light of day; And there we'd walk and friendly talk About our wedding day. So along we walked,hand in hand, Till we came to Knoxville town; I drew my knife from out my belt And struck that fair one down. She fell onto her bended knees, For mercy, she did cry; For heaven's sake, don't murder me; I'm not prepared to die. I picked her up in my arms so cold And kissed both cheeks and chin; And as a rolling tide came by I gently tossed her in. See how she sinks, see how she dies, In the dark and rolling tide; Instead of being there tonight She should have been my bride. Then I returned to my master's room At two o'clock that night; My master rose and let me in By the lighting of the light. The Knoxville Girl (Cont'd) Reel 264, Item 23 (Cont'd) My master cross-questioned me, What stained my hands and clothes. The answer that I gave to him Was bleeding at the nose. Next morning I was taken down And bound in irons cold; Her sister swore my life away, Which grieves I could not hold. Come all you bold and reckless boys, And do the girls no harm; For if you do, you'll surely rue The day that you were born.Funding for digitization provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council and the Happy Hollow Foundation