I asked my love To take a walk Just a walk A little way And as we walk oh may we talk All about our wedding day Only say that you'll be mine In our home where happy be Down beside where the waters flow On the banks of the Ohio I held a knife against her breast As into my arm she pressed She said, "Willy don't you murder me I'm unprepared for eternity" I took her by her lily white hand And dragged her down that bank of sand Where I throwed her in to drown I watched her as she floated down Was walkin' home 'Tween 12 and one Thinking of what I've done I've killed a girl My love you see 'Cause she would not marry me The very next morn' about half past four Sheriff came and knocked on my door He said, "Young man come now and go, to the banks of the Ohio"