Banks of the Ohio
Love's Dark Descent: Banks of the Ohio Tale
Lyrics
I asked my love to take a walk
I invited my love to go for a walk
To take a walk, just a little walk
A short stroll, just a little walk
Down beside where the waters flow
Along the waterside
Down by the banks of the Ohio
By the banks of the Ohio
And only say that you'll be mine
Expressing a desire for commitment
In no others' arms entwine
To be exclusively mine, not in another's embrace
Down beside where the waters flow
By the flowing waterside
Down by the banks of the Ohio
By the banks of the Ohio
I asked her if she'd marry me
I proposed marriage to her
And my wife forever be
Seeking a lifelong commitment
She only turned her head away
She rejected me without words
And had no other words to say
No response or explanation
I held a knife against his breast
Used a knife against his chest
As into my arms he pressed
He embraced me despite the threat
He cried "my love, don't you murder me
He pleaded not to be killed
I'm not prepared for eternity"
Not ready for eternity (death)
I took her by her lilywhite hands
Took her hands and led her
I drug her down to the golden sands
Pulled her to the sandy shore
An I there threw her into drown
Threw her into the water to drown
And I watched her as she floated down
Watched her float away
I wandered home 'tween twelve and one
Returned home between midnight and 1 AM
I cried, "My God, what have I done?"
Realized the gravity of the act
I've killed the only man I love
Regret for killing the man she loved
He would not take me for his bride
He rejected her as a bride
And only say that you'll be mine
Repetition of desire for commitment
In no others' arms entwine
To be exclusive, no other embraces
Down beside where the waters flow
By the flowing waterside
Down by the banks of the Ohio
By the banks of the Ohio
well the very next morn
Transition to the next morning
bout half past four
Around 4:30 AM
sheriff's men knocked at my door
Sheriff's men arrived at the door
saying now young man
Sheriff notifying the need to go to the banks of the Ohio
time to go down to the banks of the ohio
Implication of legal consequences
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