—19th Century murder ballad
I asked my love to take a walk
Just a little ways with me
And as we walked then we would talk
All about our wedding day
Chorus:
Darling say that you'll be mine
In our home we'll happy be
Down beside where the waters flow
On the banks of the Ohio
I took her by her lily white hand
I let her down the bank of sand
I plunged her in where she would drown
And watch her as she floated down
Chorus
Returning home between twelve and one
Thinking "Lord, what a deed I've done?"
I killed the girl I love, you see
Because she would not marry me
Chorus
Verse and Chorus:
| I | V | V | I |
| I | IV | I | V-I |
Other lyrics:
I asked my love to take a walk
Just a walk a little way
And as we walk, oh, may we talk
All about our wedding day
Only say that you'll be mine
In our home we'll happy be
Down beside where the waters flow
On the banks of the Ohio
I held a knife against her breast
As into my arms she pressed
She said Willie, don't you murder me
I'm unprepared for eternity
I took her by her lily white hand
And dragged her down that bank of sand
There I throwed her in to drown
I watched her as she floated down
Was walking home tween twelve and one
Thinkin' of what I had done
I killed a girl, my love you see
Because she would not marry me
The very next morn about half past four
The Sheriff came knocked at my door
He said now young man come now and go
Down to the Banks of the Ohio