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THE WAXWARD GIRL (THE NOEL GIRL; THE LEXINGTON MURDER; THE OXFORD GIRL) Sung by: Fred High Recorded in High, AR 8/26/59 Click here to listen to the original recording 'Twas in the town of Nero I used to live and dwell. 'Twas in the town of Waxward I owned a flour mill. I fell in love with a Waxward girl, And she in love with me. I asked her to marry me-- It was at her own comply. We was to meet down at her sister's house At nine o'clock that night, And take a walk down by the riverside, Our wedding to provide. We walked over hills and valleys 'Til we come to level ground. I upped with a fence stake; I knocked the fair maid down. She fell all to her bended knees. "Oh, Johnny, Johnny," she cried. "Oh, Johnny, Johnny, don't murder me here For I'm not prepared to die." He took no need to the dying calls, But laid it on the more 'Til the ground all around him Was covered with bloody mud. He took her by the flaxen hair And dragged her 'round and around, And throwed her in the river That run through Waxward town. "Lie there, lie there, you Waxward girl. Lie there, lie there," he cried, "Lie there, lie there, you Waxward girl. To you I'll never be tied." He walked on back to his mother's house At eleven o'clock that night. His mother being in trouble, He raised a fearful fright. "My son, my son, what have you done That's blooded up your hands and clothes?" The answer that he give her: "Been bleeding at the nose." He first called for a candle To light him off to bed, And next for a napkin To wrap around his head. He groaned upon his pillow. No peace, no rest could he find, For the flames of Hell shined around him, And the Waxward girl behind. (Mr. High: "That's all I know, but there's another verse or two.") Also found in Randolph, Vol. II, #150, "The Noel Girl"; Brown, Vol. II, #65, "The Lexington Murder"; Belden, p. 133, "The Oxford Girl." |
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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 |