I met a little girl in Knoxville a town we all know well

And every Sunday evening out in her home I'd dwell

We went to take an evening walk about a mile from town

I thought of how she cheated me so I knocked that fair girl down

She fell down on her bended knees for mercy she did cry

Oh please my dear don't kill me here I'm not prepare to die

She never spoke another word I only beat her more

Until the ground around me with inner blood did flow

I took her by her golden curles and I dragged her round and round

Throwing her into the river that flows through Knoxville town

Go down go down you Knoxville girl with the dark and rovin' eyes

Go down go down you Knoxville girl you can never be my bride

I started back to Knoxville got there about daylight

My mother she was worried and broke up in her pride

Sayin' dear son what have you done too bloody your clothes are

I told my attention mother I was bleeding at my nose

They took me down to Knoxville and they locked me in a cell

My friends all tried to get me out but none could go my bail

I'm here to waste my life away down in this dirty old jail

Because I killed that Knoxville girl the one I loved so well