The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #131279   Message #2960050
Posted By: GUEST,Paul Slade
07-Aug-10 - 11:05 AM
Thread Name: Folklore: ISO fact-based murder ballad w/a river
Subject: RE: Folklore: ISO fact-based murder ballad w/a riv
Sounds like Knoxville Girl to me, which is a US version of an old English ballad called The Bloody Miller. The Berkshire Tragedy, Oxford Girl, Wexford Girl, The Noel Girl and The Lexington Miller are all members of the same family of songs springing from this source. And so, arguably, is Banks of the Ohio.

I've set out the full story in exhaustive detail here.