I asked my love to take a walk To take a walk just a little ways And as we walked then we would talk All about our wedding day Only say that you'll be mine In no other arms entwine Down beside where the waters flow Down by the banks of the Ohio I asked her will she marry me And my wife forever be She only turned her head away And had no other words to say I held my knife against her breast And told her she was going to rest She cried, "Oh Willy! Don't murder me! I'm not prepared for eternity" I took her by her lily white hand And led her down the bank of sand And there I threw her in to drown And watched her as she floated down And going home between 12 and one I cried, "Dear Lord, what have I done? I've killed the only girl I love Because she would not marry me"