Knoxville Girl- J. F. Collett (KY) 1937 Lomax REC
[Library of Congress recording AFC 1937/001. Berea College, Hutchins Library, Department of Special Collections and Archives.
Quick transcription.
R. Matteson 2016]
The Knoxville Girl- sung by J.F. "Farmer" Collett of Marrowbone Creek; Gardner, KY (Leslie County). Recorded on September 26, 1937 (vocal and guitar- fast waltz tempo) at the home of John Sizemore by Alan Lomax.
In the town of Knoxville
I used to live and dwell,
And in the town of Knoxville
I owned a flour mill.
I fell in love with a Knoxville girl,
With a dark and rolling eye
Thought I'd see if she would marry me
And she-- never replied.
I pulled up at her sister's house
About a little past eight[1]
I asked her to take a walk with me,
Down to a little lake[2].
We talked along, we walked along,
Till we came to the level ground,
There I picked [up] a hickory stick,
And knocked that fair girl down.
She fell upon her bending knees,
"Oh Lord have mercy," she cried;
"Oh Willie, my dear, don't murder me here
I'm not prepared to die."
I minded not as word she said,
I beat her more and more;
I beat her 'til the blood around,
Was in a bloody gore.
I taken her by the yellow hair,
I drug her round and round;
I threw her in the still water deep,
That flows through Knoxville town.
About six weeks later,
That Knoxville girl was found;
Floating down the still water deep
That flows through Knoxville town.
Her sister swore my life away
She swore without a doubt
Swore I was the very man
That led her sister out.
Now they're going to hang me,
A death I hate to die;
Now they're going to hang me
Between the earth and sky.
Now they're going to hang me,
A death I hate to die;
They're going to hang me up so high
Between the earth and sky.
1. unclear- volume drops
2. unclear