My tender parents brought me up
Provided for me well
Twas in the city of Lanson Town
They placed me in a mill

It was there I spied a pretty fair miss
On whom I cast my eye
I asked her if she'd marry me
And she believed a lie

Three weeks ago last Saturday night
Of course it was the day
The devil put it in my mind
To take her life away

I went into her sisters house
At eight o'clock one night
But little did the sister ? think
On her I had my spite

I asked her if she'd take a walk
With me a little ways
That she and I might have a talk
About our wedding day

We walked along until we came
To my little desert place
I grabbed a stick off of the fence
And struck her in the face

I run my fingers through her coal black hair
To cover up my sin
I drug her to the river side
And there I plunged her in

I started back unto my mill
I met my servant John
He asked me why I was so pale
And it so very warm

Come all young men and warning take
Unto your lovers be true
And never let the devil get
The upper hand of you


I met my servant John