John Louis said:
"People, I'll tell you no lies
Of the way, I murdered little Omie Wise"
He told her to meet him at Adam's Spring
He'd bring her some money and other fine things
Foolishly, she met him at Adam's Spring
He brought her no money, no other fine things
I'd tell you some his'try
I think it's not too late
Omie was murdered
In the year of eighteen-eight
"John Louis, John Louis,
I'm 'fraid of your ways
Your mind is to ramble
And leave me astray"
"Little Omie, Little Omie,
I'll tell you my mind
My mind is to drown you
And leave you behind"
"Hop up behind me
Away we will go
Down to the river
Where the deepwaters flow"
She hopped up behind him
Away they did go
Down to the river
Where the deep water did flow
He beat her, he banged her
She couldn't hardly speak
He threw her in the river
Where the water is twenty-foot deep
Little Omie was missin'
The people did not know
They gathered together
And hunting they did go
They rambled, they rambled
The whole world around
Poor little Omie
Had never been found
But two little boys was fishin'
One windy morn'
They saw little Omie's body
Comin' down in a storm
They threw the net around her
And threw it to the bank
Her clothes they was muddy
And they laid her on a plank
They sent for John Louis
To come and see the sight
He murdered his own true lover
And he did not deny
They handcuffed John Louis
And takin' him off to jail
Surrounded Omie's body
And takin' her to the grave
"My name is John Louis
My name I'll never deny
I murdered my own true lover
And now I'm ready to die"