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