I met a little girl in Knoxville. A town we all know well. And every sunday evening. In her home I'd dwell. We went to take an evening walk. About a mile from town. I picked a stick up off the ground. And I knocked that fair girl down. She fell down on her bended knees. For mercy she did cry. "Oh Willy dear don't kill me yet. I'm unprepared to die". She never spoke another word. I only beat her more. Until the ground around me. With her blood did flow. I took her by her golden curls. And I dragged her 'round and 'round. Throwing her into the river. That flows from Knoxville town. Go down go down you Knoxville girl. With your dark and roving eyes. Go down go down you Knoxville girl. You can never be my bride. I started back to Knoxville. Got there about midnight. My mother she was worried. She woke up in a fright. Saying "Dear son what have you done. To bloody up your clothes?". I told my anxious mother. That I was bleading in my nose. I called for me a candle. And I called for me a bed. And I called for me a handkerchief. To bind my aching head. I rolled and thrashed the whole night through. All horrors I did see. The devil stood at the foot of my bed. Pointing his finger at me. They carried me down to Knoxville. And put me in a cell. My friends all tried to get me out. But none could grow my bail. I'm here to waste my life away. Down in this dirty old jail. Because I murdered that Knoxville girl.