THE EXPORT GIRL (THE NOEL GIRL; THE LEXINGTON MURDER; THE OXFORD GIRL) Sung by: Mrs. Ben Daugherty Recorded in Cave City, AR 8/10/58 Click here to listen to the original recording And there I lived and dwelt. I used to live in Export town And owned a flour mill. Fell in love with an Export girl With dark and rolling eyes. I asked that girl to marry me, And me she never denied. We rode up to her sister's house About eight o'clock one night. Her sister, knowing nothing of this, We awoke her in a fright. I asked my love to take a walk Down by the meadow gate, That we may have a pleasant walk And name our wedding day. Walked along, we talked along, 'Til we came to a hedgewood patch, And Willy picked up a hedgewood stick And he knocked this fair girl down. She fell upon her bending knees, Saying, "Lord, have mercy," she cried. "Oh, Willy, dear, don't murder me here, For I'm not prepared to die." Heeded not one word she said, But beat her more and more, Until the blood was running around And running in a gore. Rode in at his mother's house About twelve o'clock that night. Mother being old and childish, He waked her with a fright. "Dear son, dear son, where have you been, To bloody your hands and clothes?" The answer that he gave to her Was "Bleeding at the nose." Rolled and he tumbled; No comfort could he find. The flames of Hell was all around And in his eyes did shine. 'Bout three weeks or later, This Export girl was found, Running through the broad waters That run through Export town. Her sister swore my life away, Swored without a doubt. She swore that I was the very lad That led her sister out. Oh, Lord, they're going to hang me, Death I dread to die. Lord, they're going to hang me Between the earth and skies. Also found in Randolph, Vol. II, #150, "The Noel Girl"; Brown, Vol. II, #65, "The Lexington Murder"; Belden, p. 133, "The Oxford Girl." |
All Songs Recorded by John Quincy Wolf, Jr., unless otherwise noted The John Quincy Wolf Folklore Collection Lyon College, Batesville, Arkansas Back to the Song Index Back to the Wolf Collection Homepage ©Copyright 2002 Lyon College |