Down in the Willow Garden

Down in the willow garden
Where me and my love did meet
There we sat a-courtin'
My love dropped off to sleep
I had a bottle of burgundy wine
Which my true love did not know
And there I poisoned that dear little girl
Down on the banks below

I drew my saber through her
Which was a bloody knife
I threw her into the river
Which was a dreadful sight
My father often told me
That money would set me free
If I would murder that dear little girl
Whose name was Rose Connally

Now he sits in his cabin door
A-wiping his tear-dimmed eyes
A-looking at his own dear son
Upon the scaffold high
My race is run beneath the sun
The Devil is waiting for me
For I did murder that dear little girl
Whose name was Rose Connally

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Lyrics from the Mountain Music for Everyone Collection, a database of nearly 400 traditional songs common in bluegrass and old-time circles. The collection is provided by the Abbott family, which also offers books and CDs aimed at providing a path to playing by ear, songbooks, and play-along CDs for learning these traditional songs. Visit www.PlayingByEar.com for more.