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THE OXFORD GIRL (THE NOEL GIRL; THE KNOXVILLE GIRL; THE LEXINGTON MURDER; THE EXPORT GIRL) Sung by: Mrs. Almeda Riddle Recorded in Miller, AR 8/22/57 Click here to listen to the original recording Where I did live and dwell. 'Twas in the town of Oxford I run a flour mill. I fell in love with an Oxford girl With dark and darling eyes. I asked her if she'd marry me, And me she never denied. I called her at her sister's house At eight o'clock one night. I asked her if she'd walk with me And appoint our wedding day. We walked along and talked along 'Til we came to level ground. Then I picked up a hedgewood stick And knocked this fair maid down. She fell upon her bended knees; "Oh, Willie," she did cry. "Oh, Willie, dear, don't murder me; I'm not prepared to die." I paid no attention to her piteous appeal, Just beat her more and more, 'Til all around where the dead body lay Was almost in a roar. Then I picked her up by her little white hand, And I threw her 'round and 'round. I dragged her down to the riverside And threw her in to drown. I then returned to my mother's home About twelve o'clock that night. My mother, being worried, Woke up in a fright. "Oh, God, my son, now what have you done That's bloodied your hands and clothes?" The answer that I gave to her Was, "Bleeding at the nose." I asked her for a handkerchief To bind my aching head, And also for a candle To light myself to bed. But I rolled and I tumbled And no rest could I find, For the flames of hell rolled 'round me And in my eyes did shine. I rolled and tumbled, I prayed but found no rest, For a burning, burning, burning hell Was burning in my breast. 'Bout two or three days after this, That Oxford girl was found A-floating down the river That led through Oxford town. Her sister threw my life away Without a fear or doubt. Her sister swore I was the man Who led her sister out. Oh, God, they're going to hang me now Between the earth and sky. Oh, God, they're going to hang me, The death I hate to die. But I'd not mind the hanging, If only I had rest From this burning, burning, burning hell That's burning in my breast. 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 |