Lexington Murder- Susie Wasson (AR) 1959 Parler E
[Ozark Folk Song Collection- online; Reel 284, Item 4. Collected by Iola Stone for Mary Celestia Parler. Transcribed by Iola Stone.
Listen:
http://digitalcollections.uark.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/OzarkFolkSong/id/1525/rec/9
This is a NC version title.
R. Matteson 2106]
"Lexington Murder." Sung by Mrs. Susie Wasson of Springdale, Arkansas on August 8, 1959
My tender parents brought me up,
And provided for me well;
And in the city of Lexington,
They placed me in a mill.
And there I met a pretty fair maid,
And on her cast an eye;
I promised I would marry her,
Although she believed a lie.
I went down to her sisters house,
At eight o’clock at night,
And little did the innocent creature think,
I hated her in my sight[1].
I asked her with me to take a walk,
A little ways away,
So she and I might have a talk,
About our wedding day.
So side by side we walked along,
Till we came to a silent place,
I drew a stake from off the fence,
And smote her in the face.
And on her bended knees she bowed,
And loud for mercy cried;
For heavens sake don’t murder me,
I am not prepared to die.
I paid little attention to what she said,
And only struck her more,
Until I saw her innocent blood,
That I can never restore.
I ran my hands through her coal black hair,
To cover up my sin;
I drug her to the river side,
And there I plunged her in.
And then again to the mill I returned,
I met my servant John;
He asked what made me look so pale,
And yet so very warm.
And what the occasion of so much blood,
Upon your hands and clothes,
And in a moment I replied:
Was bleeding from the nose.
I lit my candle and went to bed,
Expecting to take my rest,
It seemed just like the fire of hell,
Was burning in my breast.
Now all you boys take warning to this,
And to your lover prove true;
And never let the Devil get,
The uppermost hand of you.
1. from, "I owed her any spite."