Lexington Murder- Nora Hicks (NC) 1937 Abrams D
[From Abrams Collection item- Lexington Murder, no date, typed MS. This standard version (from the late 1800s) was copied by Nora's daughter Addie for Edith Walker, a student collector for Abrams. Nora learned many versions from her mother. I've corrected two obvious errors in Addie's transcription. This is a version of the Mast's Gap Hicks and not the ancient relic as sung by Pollyanna Hicks Harmon.
R. Matteson 2016
Lexington Murder- sung by Nora Hicks, taken down by Addie Hicks c. 1937
1. My tender parents brought me up
Provided for me well,
And in that city of Lexington[1]
They placed me in the mill.
2 And there I spied a fair young miss
on her I cast my eye
I asked her if she'd marry me
And she believed the lie[2].
3. Three weeks ago last Saturday night
It might have been tonight
The devil put it in my head
To take way her life.
4. I went down to her sister's house,
At eight o'clock at night
And little did that creature know
I owed her any spite.
5. I asked her if she would take a walk,
Some little ways away,
That she and I might have a talk,
About our wedding day.
6. We struggled along until we came,
To a dark and desert[ed] place,
I drew a stabbing from the fence,
And struck her in the face.
7. Then down upon her bended her knees,
"Have mercy upon me," she cried,
"For heaven's sake don't murder me
For I am unprepared to die."
8 But little did I think of that,
I only struck her more
Until I saw the innocent[3] blood
That I could not restore.
9 I put my fingers through her cold black hair;
To cover up my sin
I took her to the river bank
And there I plunged her in.
10 Down on my way back to the mill
I met my servant John.
He asked to me what makes you so pale
And the weather it was very warm.
11 I went on it and lit up my candle.
Expecting to take my rest.
It seemed to me that fires of hell
Were burning in my breast.
12 Come all young men this warning by me
And always your lover be true;
Don't ever let the devil get
The upper hand on you.
1 MS "I flexed and turned" !
2. Changed from "If with me she would lie."
3. MS "in some"