The murder ballads seem to be my favourites. I've played around with this song in the past, using Lomax & C. Sharp as my primary sources. I've been drawn to the superstitious/supernatural element in the tune and have made a couple of attempts at rewriting my own ending. I like the bit about body parts announcing guilt. I've attempted to write the ending so that the miller, upon fishing the body from the pond, cuts off the hair and makes strings for his fiddle, then plays at the wedding of the older sister & the suitor. ex...

He cut off her tresses to make fiddle strings,
Bow & balance to me.
He cut off her tresses to make fiddle strings,
He played at the wedding,
The fiddle did sing,
I'll be true to my love etc.

I never was satisfied with any of the verses I could come up with, but I liked the concept of having a supernatural condemnation of the crime, without clear consequences. If you like the idea, help yourself. I'm stumped.

This song, along with "the Cruel Mother" Came to my mind when the Susan Smith infanticide story hit the news. The more things change...

Frank I.T.S.