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
   I picked a stick up off the ground and knocked that fair girl down
   Oh Willy 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 within her blood did flow
   [ fiddle - guitar ]
   I took her by her golden curles I dragged her round and round
   Then threw her into the river that flows through Knoxville town
   Go there go there you Knoxville girl with dark and rolling eyes
   Go there go there you Knoxville girl you'll never be my wife
   I rolled and tumbled the whole night through my dreams were living hell
   And then they came from Knoxville and carried me to jail
   I'm here to waste my life away and time is passing slow
   Because I killed that Knoxville girl the girl I loved so