(D)I met a little girl in (D7)Knoxville a  (G)town we all know (D)well
And every Sunday evening out (E)in her home I (A)dwelled
I (D)took her for an evening (D7)walk a(G)bout a mile from (D)town
I picked a stick up off the ground and (A)knocked that fair girl (D)down

She fell down on her bended (D7)knees for (G)mercy she did (D)cry
"Oh Willy dear don’t kill me here I’m (E)unprepared to (A)die"
She (D)never spoke another (D7)word, I (G)only beat her (D)more
Until the ground around her with   (A)it her blood did (D)flow

I took her by her golden (D7)curls and (G)swung her round and (D)round
I threw her in the river that (E)flows through Knoxville (A)town
Go (D)there go there you (D7)Knoxville girl with the (G)dark and roving (D)eyes
Go there go there you Knoxville girl you can (A)never be my (D)bride

I started back to (D7)Knoxville got (G)there about mid(D)night
My mother dear was worried and (E)woke up in a (A)fright 
She (D)said oh son what (D7)have you done to (G)bloody you clothes (D)so
I told my ancient mother I’d been (A)bleeding at my (D)nose

I called for me a (D7)candle to (G)light myself to (D)bed
I called for me a hankerchief to (E)bind my aching (A)head
I (D)rolled and tumbled the (D7)whole night through, not a (G)wink that night did (D)sleep
While the flames of hell around my bed with-(A)in my eyes could (D)see

They took me down to (D7)Knoxville they (G)locked me in the (D)cell 
My friends all tried to get me out but (E)none could go my (A)bail 
So (D)now I’m wasting my (D7)life away down (G)in this dirty old (D)jail
Because I murdered that Knoxville girl the (A)girl I loved so (D)well