Need Your Help

DaveY said:

I came up with this version (replaces stanzas from #5 on); it's between the darkness of the original and the sunniness of your rewrite:


I plunged my face between her breasts
And closed my eyes, and took a rest.
She cried, “Willy, don’t suffocate,
I still need you to fix the gate.”

But I felt I deserved a break -
I’d worked all day, for goodness sake!
And so again I settled down,
into the bodice of her gown.

When I awoke, I was the fool.
Not just had I begun to drool,
But she had left, and in her stead
A horse’s arse now held my head.

And going home, I felt alone.
With bitter tears, I keened, and moaned.
For I now knew my dreadful fate:
To fix that stupid broken gate.

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Ukuleleblues said:

You know times have changed, and the lyrics to some of the old songs are well....just creepy. My mother-in-law loves "On The Banks Of The Ohio". I don't thinks she has actually listened to the creepy-stalker-murdering lyrics. She just says "What a pretty song". My wife want to play it for her but without the weirdo-stalker-murder lyrics. A while back I saw a version called "The Banks of The Ohio - Non Violent Lyrics". I can't find them again, anyone have a copy or can point me in the right direction?

Here is a representation of the original Lyrics (I may have to make my own up if I can't find decent ones.)

I asked my love to take a walk
Take a walk just a little ways
And as we walked, along we talk
All would be our wedding day

And only say that you'll be mine
In no others arms entwined
Down beside where the waters flow
Down by the banks of the Ohio

I asked her if she'd marry me
And my wife forever be
She only turned her head away
And had no other words to say

And only say that you'll be mine
In no others arms entwined
Down beside where the waters flow
Down by the banks of the Ohio

I plunged a knife into her breast
And told her she was going to rest
She cried "Oh Willy, don't murder me
I'm not prepared for eternity"

I took her by her golden curls
And drug her down to the river side
And there I threw her into drown
And I watched her as she floated down

And only say that you'll be mine
In no others arms entwined
Down beside where the waters flow
Down by the banks of the Ohio

And going home between twelve and one
I cried "Oh Lord, what have I've done?"
I've killed the only girl I love
Because she would not marry me

And only say that you'll be mine
In no others arms entwined
Down beside where the waters flow
Down by the banks of the Ohio

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Tigeralum2001 said:

Is this what you were looking for? Found here-
http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=1696

I asked my love to walk with me,
To walk with me a little way.
We strolled along where the waters flow
Down by the banks of the Ohio.
I said to her, "The waters roll,
You can't keep them, they will not stay."
She said to me, "What does that mean?"
I said, "I'm goin' to New Orleans."

She said to me, "You can't keep love,
You can't keep love, it will not stay.
But to their honor men must hold;
I'll bear our child ere the year be old.

Then while she wept I left her there,
I left her standing on the clay.
In town a boat called out to me,
"Come board, young man, and smell the sea."

But I've lived my life on this hard shore,
This shore that waters pass all day.
It's been some years since we have seen
Our son who writes from New Orleans.

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