| I asked my love to take a walk
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| To take a walk, just a little walk
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| Down beside where the waters flow
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| Down by the banks of the Ohio
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| And only say that you’ll be mine
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| In no others' arms entwine
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| Down beside where the waters flow
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| Down by the banks of the Ohio
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| I asked her if she’d marry me
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| And my wife forever be
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| She only turned her head away
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| And had no other words to say
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| I held a knife against his breast
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| As into my arms he pressed
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| He cried «my love, don’t you murder me
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| I’m not prepared for eternity»
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| I took her by her lilywhite hands
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| I drug her down to the golden sands
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| An I there threw her into drown
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| And I watched her as she floated down
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| I wandered home 'tween twelve and one
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| I cried, «My God, what have I done?»
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| I’ve killed the only man I love
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| He would not take me for his bride
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| And only say that you’ll be mine
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| In no others' arms entwine
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| Down beside where the waters flow
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| Down by the banks of the Ohio
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| well the very next morn
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| bout half past four
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| sheriff’s men knocked at my door
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| saying now young man
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| time to go down to the banks of the ohio |