[Intro]
 G
[Strophe]
           G               D 
I asked my love, to take a walk 
                      G 
Take a walk, just a little ways, 
                            C 
And as we walked, along  we talked 
              G    D            G 
Of when would be,   our wedding day.
[Refrain]
         G                   D 
And only say, that you'll be mine, 
                         G 
In no o  thers arms entwined, 
                             C 
Down beside where the waters flow, 
            G    D          G 
Down by the banks of the Ohio.
[Strophe]
            G              D 
I asked her if she'd marry me, 
                    G 
And my wife forever be, 
                          C 
She only turned her head away 
           G  D           G 
And had no other words to say.
[Refrain]
         G                   D 
And only say, that you'll be mine, 
                         G 
In no o  thers arms entwined, 
                             C 
Down beside where the waters flow, 
            G    D          G 
Down by the banks of the Ohio.
[Strophe]
            G              D 
I plunged a knife into her breast, 
                              G 
And told her she was going to rest, 
                                   C 
She cried 'Oh Willie, don't murder me, 
        G       D           G 
I'm not prepared for eternity.'
[Strophe]
           G             D 
I took her by her golden curls, 
                              G 
And drug her down to the riverside, 
                            C 
And there I pushed her into drown, 
                  G D            G 
And I watched her as she floated down.
[Refrain]
         G                   D 
And only say, that you'll be mine, 
                         G 
In no o  thers arms entwined, 
                             C 
Down beside where the waters flow, 
            G    D          G 
Down by the banks of the Ohio.
[Strophe]
          G                       D 
And going home between twelve and one, 
                                G 
And cried 'Oh Lord, What have I done, 
                            C 
I've killed the only girl I love, 
            G    D          G 
Because she would not marry me.
[Refrain]
         G                   D 
And only say, that you'll be mine, 
                         G 
In no o  thers arms entwined, 
                             C 
Down beside where the waters flow, 
            G    D          G 
Down by the banks of the Ohio.