D D7 G D
I met a little girl in Knoxville a town we all know well
E A
And every Sunday evening out in her home I dwelled
D D7 G D
I took her for an evening walk a bout a mile from town
A D
I picked a stick up off the ground and knocked that fair girl down
D7 G D
She fell down on her bended knees for mercy she did cry
E A
"Oh Willy dear don?t kill me here I?m unprepared to die"
D D7 G D
She never spoke another word, I only beat her more
A D
Until the ground around her with it her blood did flow
D7 G D
I took her by her golden curls and swung her round and round
E A
I threw her in the river that flows through Knoxville town
D D7 G D
Go there go there you Knoxville girl with the dark and roving eyes
A D
Go there go there you Knoxville girl you can never be my bride
D7 G D
I started back to Knoxville got there about mid night
E A
My mother dear was worried and woke up in a fright
D D7 G D
She said oh son what have you done to bloody you clothes so
A D
I told my ancient mother I?d been bleeding at my nose
D7 G D
I called for me a candle to light myself to bed
E A
I called for me a hankerchief to bind my aching head
D D7 G D
I rolled and tumbled the whole night through, not a wink that night did sleep
A D
While the flames of hell around my bed with- in my eyes could see
D7 G D
They took me down to Knoxville they locked me in the cell
E A
My friends all tried to get me out but none could go my bail
D D7 G D
So now I?m wasting my life away down in this dirty old jail
A D
Because I murdered that Knoxville girl the girl I loved so well