Oxford Tragedy (Traditional Version) Songtext

Once there was a little tailor boyAbout sixteen years of age;My father hired me to a millerThat I might learn the trade.I fell in love with a Knoxville girl,Her name was Flora Dean.Her rosy cheeks, her curly hair,I really did admire.Her father he persuaded meTo take Flora for a wife;The devil he persuaded meTo take Flora's life.Up stepped her mother so bold and gay,So boldly she did stand;Johnny dear, go marry herAnd take her off my hands.I went unto her father's houseAbout nine o'clock at night,A-asking her to take a walkTo do some prively talk.We had not got so very farTill looking around and around,He stooping down picked up a stickAnd knocks little Flora down.She fell upon her bended knees,For mercy she did cry:O Johnny dear, don't murder me,For I'm not fit to die.I took her by her lily-white handsA-slung her around and around;I drug her off to the river-side,And plunged her in to drown.I returned back to my miller's houseAbout nine o'clock at night,But little did my miller knowWhat I had been about.The miller turned around and about,Said:" Johnny, what blooded your clothes?"Me being so apt to take a hint:By bleeding at the nose.About nine or ten days after that,Little Flora she was foundA-floating down by her father's houseWho lived in Knoxville town.