Cat. #0008 (MFH #670) - As sung by Mr. David Pricket, Clifty, Arkansas on January 19, 1958
VERSE 1
It was in the town of Nero
Where I did live and dwell
It was in the town of Waxweed
I owned a floury mill
VERSE 2
I fell in love with a Waxweed girl
With dark and rolling eyes
I asked her to marry me
T'was at her own surprise
VERSE 3
Down at her sister's house
Th wedding to provide
I asked her to walk with me
Down by th river-side
VERSE 4
We walked th hills an' valleys
Till we came to level ground
Then picking up th fence stake
I knocked th fair maid down
VERSE 5
Her falling to her bended knees
Have mercy, she did cry
O, Johnny dear, don't murder me
I'm not prepared to die
VERSE 6
I took no heed to what was said
But I only lept on more
Till all th ground fer yards around
Was covered with bloody morr
VERSE 7
I took her by her curly locks
And drug her on th ground
I threw 'er in th river
That flowed to Waxweed town
VERSE 8
It was ten o'clock an' after
When I got home that night
My Mother setting there
Got up in turble fright
VERSE 9
O, son, a son, what have ya done
To bloody your hands and clothes?
The only answer I could give,
Was bleeding at the nose
VERSE 10
I called for a candle
To light me off to bed
Th next for a napkin
To bind around my head
VERSE 11
I turned over and over
No comfort could I find
Those flames of hell shown 'round me
An' th Waxweed girl behind
VERSE 12
It was early next morning
The Waxweed girl was found
A floating down th river
That flowed to Waxweed town
VERSE 13
They took me on supision
They put me in th jail
No one t' go my security
No on t' go my bail
VERSE 14
Her sister swore my life away
She swore without a doubt
She swore, that I's the very man
That took her sister out
VERSE 15
Come all you young people
Warning take from me
Don't murder your true lover
Fer no cruelty
VERSE 16
For if you do they'll bother you
Until th day you die
And finally, they'll hang you
Upon a gallows high
Mr. David Pricket learned this song from his Father. His sister Lucy helped him sing.