Knoxville Girl
First recording and first release by Arthur Tanner (June 1925 / 1925)
- Lyrics written by
- [Traditional]
- Publication date
- 1796
- Language
- English
- Comments
-
[Roud 263; Laws P35; G/D 2:200; Ballad Index LP35; MusTrad DB11; VWML HAM/2/8/20; Bodleian Roud 263; Wiltshire 105, 586 ; Mudcat 14344; trad.]
English ballad typically known as The Wexford Girl but is known under different titles in different countries/regions (Oxford/Lexington/Waxweed/Wexford/Knoxville Girl, The Oxford Tragedy, Hanged I Shall Be, The Cruel Miller, The Wittam Miller, The Butcher Boy etc.). Most known in America as Knoxville Girl.
The story of the song goes as follows: the singer invites the girl for a walk. They discuss their wedding. Then he takes up a club (or pulls out a knife) and attacks her. She begs him to spare her life. He beats (or stabs) her to death and throws her in the river. He is taken and hanged - Licensing
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