Bluegrass murder songs

[Rafe Hollister]

Lost love, dead children, hard times, and faith in God are common themes in the purest of American music. But every band records an obligatory murder song periodically. Here are a few.

[Rafe Hollister]

The Crime I'm Guilty Of

Sadie was a dark haired beauty and I loved her well.
Sadie was a dark haired beauty and I loved her well.
By love's design I'd make her mine and in my home she'd dwell.
I led her to the willow tree where I had carved her name.
I led her to the willow tree where I had carved her name.
By God above I pledged my love and thought she'd do the same.

Chorus
I gave all I could give, my heart was hers to own.
My life was hers to live, now I must live alone.

She laughed at me there on my knees and I felt so ashamed.
She laughed at me there on my knees and I felt so ashamed.
Consumed by love, the victim of a young girl's wicked game.
I drew my knife and took her life there by the willow tree.
I drew my knife and took her life there by the willow tree.
And now she sleeps beneath three feet of clay eternally.

Chorus
I gave all I could give. I loved all I could love.
Now no one can forgive the crime I'm guilty of.
I gave all I could give. I loved all I could love.
Now no one can forgive the crime I'm guilty of.

[Rafe Hollister]

Flowers In the Dell

While travelin' on the train one morning, just to take a ride
The car was full I did not know who I'd sat down beside.
Then she said, "It's been a long time." I felt my blood run cold.
For there beside me sat the girl who'd turned my heart to stone.
She said she was sorry for what she'd done. She'd started life anew.
And though she'd told me many times before, this time I believed it was true.
So I took her to the porter's car, I got down on my knees.
And as I held her in my arms she said she'd marry me.

Chorus
A little cabin in the countryside with curtains and fancy frills.
A little girl with dark brown eyes, and flowers in the dell, in the dell. And flowers in the dell.

The train pulled into the Lincoln Station. I reached to help her down.
But she ran into another man's arms as soon as her feet touched the ground.
Then I turned and she looked and I heard her laugh for the whole wide world to see.
And as she turned I reached and grabbed her before she could walk away.
The whistle blew I heard her scream. I'll hear it 'til my dying day.
And as she struggled a turned and threw her beneath the wheels of the train.
The judge, he said, "Ninety-nine years," granted no parole.
They put me in a cell in shackles & chains and nailed up the door.

Chorus
A little cabin in the countryside with curtains and fancy frills.
A little girl with dark brown eyes, and flowers in the dell, in the dell. And flowers in the dell.

[Rafe Hollister]

Down in the Willow Garden


Down in the willow garden where me and my love did meet
There we sat a-courting my love feel 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 bank below



I drew my saber through her which was a bloody knife
I threw her in the river which was an awful sight
My father often told me that money would set me free
If I would murder that dear little girl whose name was Rose Connelly



Now he sits in his cabin door wiping his tear-dimmed eyes
Mourning for his only son out on 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 Connelly

[Swamp_Fox]

Feelin kinda bloody today?

[Rafe Hollister]

BLACKBIRDS AND THE CROWS



Eva was a fast thang, most everybody knew
While other girls were running wild, Eva flew.
Her life was the fast lane, but it soon began show.
So I begged her with me to go, to a little home here in Idaho, with the blackbirds and the crows.

One year we were happy, tried to keep our lives on track.
While I was lookin' to the future, Eva was lookin' back.
She said she missed her old life, she was truthful I suppose.
But the truth was she could never leave, truth was all the nights I'd grieve if i ever had to let her go.



Chorus:
Blackbird sat on a fence line, crow flew through the sky.
I whispered low into Eva's ear, "Eva your gonna die."
She's a half a mile out and a quarter across beneath those wheat field rows and no one knows who put her there but the blackbirds and the crows.

Folks come by and we sit around and I tell 'em how she's gone.
I tell 'em how she packed her bags and wrecked our happy home.
Oh I tell 'em she's down in Atlanta, doin' cocaine and God only knows.
But Eva's not gone she's here with me, right here where she'll always be
With the blackbirds and the crows.

Chorus
Blackbird sat on a fence line, crow flew through the sky.
I whispered low into Eva's ear, "Eva your gonna die."
She's a half a mile out and a quarter across beneath those wheat field rows and no one knows who put her there but the blackbirds and the crows.

[Rafe Hollister]

Little Glass of Wine

Come little girl let's go get married
My love is so great, how can you slight me
I'll work for you both late and early
At my wedding my little wife you'll be

Oh Willie dear, let's both consider
We're both too young to be married now
When we're married, we're bound together
Let's stay single just one more year

He went to the bar where she was dancing
A jealous thought came to his mind
I'll kill that girl, my own true lover
Before I let another man beat my time

He went to the bar and called her to him
She said Willie dear, what you want with me
Come and drink wine with the one that loves you
More than anyone else you know, said he

While they were at the bar a-drinking
That same old thought came to his mind
He'd kill that girl, his own true lover
He gave her poison in a glass of wine

She laid her head over on his shoulder
Said Willie dear, please take me home
That glass of wine that I've just drinken
Has gone to my head and got me drunk

He laid his head over on the pillow
Let me read you the law let me tell you my mind
Molly dear, I'm sorry to tell you
We both drank poison in a glass of wine

They folded their arms around each other
They cast their eyes unto the sky
Oh God, oh God, Ain't this a pity
That the both true lovers are bound to die

[2BHNTN]

Would someone put this turkey out of his misery please ? Sound shot, anything of the sort will suffice just fine.

[Rafe Hollister]

I'm in a bad mood today. I'll get over it. Until then, you don't have to read it if you don't want to.

[Great White Hunter]

Lemme guess, you found a hair in your bowl of chili at one of the restaurants you were inspecting.

[Big John]

I see all but 1 played in A- except Flowers in the Dell that one should be played to the toon of The Orange Blossom Special.

[kodman]

Check out "COUNTRY DEATH SONG" by the Violet Femmes ....