The country ballad Knoxville Girl has always stuck in my mind, with its mournful tone and story of a murdered girl. I remember my mother singing it during the times we used to drive out into the country to take our laundry to the washer woman. I think the aspect that intrigues me the most about the song is that it doesn’t reveal why the girl was killed. Although it is told from Willie’s point of view, and he says he picked a stick up and beat the girl down and threw her in the river, he doesn’t say why he performed the heinous deed. Did she refuse to marry him, resulting in his becoming enraged? Was he longing after another girl and wanting to be rid of this one? The only hint is that she had “roving eyes.” Does that mean she cheated on him, or perhaps flirted with someone, or that he thought she was slipping away? At least he felt remorse and was destined to spend his life in jail.
The Knoxville Girl is a newer version of an old broadside ballad. A broadside ballad can be differentiated from an epic ballad by the former’s lesser subject matter and the way it is passed down in oral tradition, often with changes—for example, the place name becoming Knoxville. The lines between the two types of ballads often blur, however.
The origin of Knoxville Girl is at least as old as a broadside ballad from the Elizabethan age. A later version titled The Cruel Miller appeared in 1752. In that one, the place name was Wexford, Ireland, the man’s name Johnny, and guess what? We find out why he murdered the girl: “I was ashamed to marry her, being so young a man.” He seduced the girl, she became with child, and he decided to get rid of her. He felt remorse: “The burning flames of torment around my eyes did shine.” He didn’t get away with the crime either: “The judge and jury they quickly did agree. For the murder of my true love that hanged I should be.”
A fabulous movie about ballads being preserved in Appalachia is Songcatcher from the year 2000. I highly recommend it. The sound track is wonderful.
What do you think of Willie and Johnny and the poor girls they murdered? What old ballads tweak your interest?
Cheers & Happy Reading & Listening!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic with Paranormal Fantasy Romance
How strange you should post this today because only last week I was looking at this song. I love old ballards and so often they contain truths from events long gone. I’m afraid the murder of a girl with child crops up more than once in them. Thanks for sharing the song.
It is interesting we were both looking at Knoxville Girl, Daisy. I’m glad to know you also like old ballads. There’s just something about them!
I just love old ballads. In the case of Knoxville Girl, the version I’m familiar with is the one by The Outlaws. I also have a fondness for Irish ballads and ballads related to the sea and ships. But my favorite has its roots in folk music…The Wreck of the Old 97, about the tragic wreck of a rail train. Great topic for Mythic Monday, Flossie!
Mae, I remember your great post about the train song. I love Irish ballads so much too.
I love ballads! Remember the one I wrote in Shadows of the past?
They have a sort of combination of love gone wrong and sadness. This one you mention here brings to my mind a beautiful song Where The Wild Roses Grow, sung by Kylie Minogue and Nick Cave. Here’s a link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBq_PSg3vHc
PS sent email
Oh yes, Carmen! I remember. I went and listed to the song you left here. My son and I had listened to that before and both liked it! Thank you for stopping by.