Cat. #0228 (MFH #670) - As sung by Mr. T. R. Hammond, Osceola, Missouri on September 17, 1958
VERSE 1
My tender parents brought me up
Provided for me well
And in th town of Village Town
They placed me in a mill
VERSE 2
O, there I spied a pretty fair maid
With love and casting eye
I promised her I'd marry her
But she believed I lied
VERSE 3
I went down to her sisters hall
At eight a'clock at night
O, little did she ever think
I owed her any spite
VERSE 4
I asked her if she'd take a walk
With me a little way
And that we might have a talk
About our wedding day
VERSE 5
In hand and hand we walked along
Till we came to a silent place
I drew a stake from off th fence
And smote her in th face
VERSE 6
Down on her bended kness, she fell
Fer pity's sake she cried
For mercy's sake don't murder me
I'm not prepared to die
VERSE 7
I paid no attention to what she said
But laid it on th more
Till all of her inocent blood was shed
Which I could not restore
VERSE 8
I picked up her lifeless head
For to conceal my sin
I took her to th river side
And plunged her body in
VERSE 9
As I returned back to my mill
I met my servant John
What makes you look so pale and thin
What makes you look so wan
VERSE 10
What is the cause of so much blood
Upon your hands and clothes
I very immeaditely did reply
Was bleeding at my nose
VERSE 11
I lit my candle and went to bed
I tried to take a rest
But it seemed as if th very hell
Was burning in my breast
VERSE 12
Her body was searched for many a day
Findly it was found
And her ammits a stranger came
And on to her as bound
VERSE 13
Come all young man from this song take warning
To your lover be true
And never let th devil get
The upper hand of you
Sung by Mr. Hammond as he learned it from his mother.