Knoxville Girl- Mrs. George Ripley (AR) 1959 Hunter E
[From Missouri State; Max Hunter Folk Song Collection; Cat. #0430 (MFH #670). Minor editing. Unusual version with Lexington Murder opening plus lines from Distressed Maid broadside. I has one of the Wexford ending stanzas.
Listen: https://maxhunter.missouristate.edu/songinformation.aspx?ID=0430
R. Matteson 2016]
The Knoxville Girl - As sung by Mrs. George Ripley, Milford, Missouri on November 21, 1959
VERSE 1
My parents raised me tenderly
An' bound me to the mill;
I served my time out seven long years
Which went against my will.
VERSE 2
I fell in love with a Knoxville girl
With dark an' rougish eyes;
I promised that I'd marry her
Some night with me, she'd fly.
VERSE 3
I went into her Sister's room[1]
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VERSE 4
I ask 'er to take a walk with me
An' view the meadows gay
An' there we'd set an' friendly talk
An' name the happy day.
VERSE 5
So, long we walked with hand in hand
Till we came to Knoxville town
I drew my knife from out my belt
An' struck the fair one down.
VERSE 6
She fell upon her bended knees
For mercy, she did cry
For heavens sake, don't murder me
I'm not prepared to die.
VERSE 7
I grasp her in my arms so cold
An' kissed both cheeks an' chin[2];
Just as the rolling tide came by
I gently tossed her in
VERSE 8
See how she sinks, see how she dies
On the deep an' rolling tide
Instead of being there tonight
She should have been my bride
VERSE 9
I then returned to my master's room
At nine o'clock that night
My master rose an' let me in
By the lighting of a match.
VERSE 10
My master then, cross questioned me
What stained my hands an' clothes
The answer that I gave to him,
Was bleeding at the nose.
VERSE 11
Next morning I was taken down
An' bound in irons so cold
Her sister swore my life away
Which grief I could not hold.
VERSE 12
Come all you bold an' reckless boys
An' do the girls no harm
For if you do, your sure to rue
The day that you were born.
1. forgotten -standard completing lines:
About eight o'clock one night,
But little did that creature know
At her I had a spite.
2. Rare stanzas from The Distressed Maid/Lily-White Hand- see Phoebe Smith's Oxford Girl notes.