Both my mother and grandmother sang this song and the words they used were nearly the same as those quoted by guinnesschik above. There were some small variances in the fourth verse. Beginning with "Dear Son" my mother and grandmother sang, "My son, my son what have you done to bloody your hands and clothes? The only answer that I gave was a bleeding of the nose."

Mother and grandmother also sang a last verse that is not included in the version quoted by guinnesschik. In this last verse the young man is waiting to be hanged and he laments, "Gather 'round me ye young men, all ye young men of Knoxville town" and I can't remember the rest of the verse. Please, if anyone knows this verse, post the words.

Thank you...MaryBeth