I found this among my late father's papers. I'm sure he wrote it from memory in his early 80's. This song appears to have had a profound effect on its listeners as so many variations are in existence. As recalled by Bob Carter: Twas in the town of Expert In the merry month of May There I met a lovely young maid And we planned our wedding day. I asked her to take a walk with me Along a narrow way To have a lovely chatter And while the hours away. We walked and talked along the way Til we came to level ground It was there I picked up an expert stick And knocked the fair maid down. She fell upon her bended knees, Saying "Lord, have mercy on me Oh Willie dear, don't murder me here, For I'm not prepared to die." I never said a word to her But beat her o're and o're Till the ground all around Was all in a bloody gore. Then I picked her up by her long yellow hair And swung her round and round Then I dragged her down to a little stream That flowed through Expert Town. It must have been three weeks or more Until her body was found It was found a floating in that little stream That flowed through Expert Town They took me on suspicion And threw me in the county Jail No one to go my bondage No one to go my bail. Her brother swore my life away Without a tear or doubt. He swore that I was the very young lad Who had taken his sister out. The Judge he found me guilty Twas murder in the first degree And now they're a taking my life away At this penitentiary.
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