Beck Song Information - Down on the Banks of the Ohio

Written by: traditional

Alternate Titles:

a.k.a. Banks of the Ohio

Live Versions:

Lyrics:

Down on the Banks of the Ohio [Live version (a)]:

(From August 8 2002 version)

I asked my love to take a walk
Just a little ways away
As we walked along
We talked all about our wedding day
Darling, say that you'll be mine
And in our home we'll happy be
Down beside where the waters flow
Down on the banks of the Ohio

I took her by her lily white hand
Led her down and I made her stand
Pushed her in where she would drown
Watched her as she floated down
Darling, say that you'll be mine
In our home we'll happy be
Down beside where the waters flow
Down on the banks of the Ohio

Returning home between 12 and 1
Thinking "Lord, what a deed I have done!"
Killed the girl I loved, you see
'Cause she would not marry me
Darling, say that you'll be mine
And in our home we'll happy be
Down beside where the waters flow
Down on the banks of the Ohio
Down on the banks of the Ohio

The Song:

Beck introduced his performance of this creepy murder ballad at the Harry Smith tribute concerts by saying, "There's some disturbing music in this collection, and this is one of them. I was going to memorize it, but I don't think I want it in my head." Thus, he used a lyric sheet during his performance. Accompanying him on the performance were folk singers Kate and Anna McGarrigle, and Steve Earle on guitar.

This song is not on the original Smithsonian-Folkways Anthology of American Folk Music, which was originally compiled by Harry Smith in 1952, but on a more recently compiled Volume 4. The version on the newer anthology is by the Blue Sky Boys, though the song has been covered by a lot of different country and folk musicians over the years. It is a chilling, graphic song about a man murdering a girl because she refuses to marry him. (See the song's wiki page here.)

Beck has in fact memorized the song, as he played it four more times the following year, all in August 2002.

Live:

Played live 6 times:

April 25, 2001
April 26, 2001
August 8, 2002
August 9, 2002
August 16, 2002
August 26, 2002

Earliest known live version: April 25, 2001
Latest known live version: August 26, 2002

Beck also played the song a few times on his own tour in August 2002. Beck played banjo, while Smokey joined him on mandolin and back-up singing. It's gorgeous, haunting, dark. On August 16 2002, Beck tried to tune his banjo for this song, but couldn't get it right. (Smokey was laughing at him!) In the end, he gave up, and just sang while Smokey played mandolin.

Notes:

(These are the lyrics to the Blue Sky Boys song on the Harry Smith Anthology.)

Come my love, let's take a walk just a little ways away.
While we walk along we'll talk, talk about our wedding day.
Only say that you'll be mine and in our home we'll happy be,
Down beside where the waters flow, down on the banks of the Ohio.

I drew my knife across her throat and to my breast she gently pressed.
"Oh please, oh please, don't murder me, for I'm unprepared to die you see."
Takin' her 'bout her lily white hand, I led her down in the banks of sand.
There I plunged her in to drown and watched her as she floated down.

Returning home 'tween twelve and one, thinkin' of the deed I done.
I murdered the girl I loved, you see, 'cause she would not marry me.
Only say that you'll be mine and in our home we'll happy be,
Down beside where the waters flow, down on the banks of the Ohio.

Next day as I's returning home I met the ??? in the door.
He said, "Young man come with me and go down to the banks of the Ohio."
Only say that you'll be mine and in our home we'll happy be,
Down beside where the waters flow, down on the banks of the Ohio.
(And here are the lyrics from a version Johnny Cash laid down in 1994, that is available on a bootleg collection of outtakes from one of his American albums. There's a lot more verses, so I thought I'd include them. It's a powerful and disturbing combination, these lyrics of murder and this voice.)

I asked my love to take a walk with me just a little ways.
And as we walked along, she talked of when would be our wedding day.
And only say that you'll be mine, in no other's arms entwined.
Down beside where the waters flow, down by the banks of the Ohio.

I held a knife against her breast and told her she was going to rest.
She cried "Sweet Willie, don't murder me! I'm not prepared for eternity!"
And only say that you'll be mine, in no other's arms entwined.
Down beside where the waters flow, down by the banks of the Ohio.

I drug her down by the waterside and told her she was going to die.
And then I threw her in to drown and I watched her as she floated down.
And only say that you'll be mine, in no other's arms entwined.
Down beside where the waters flow, down by the banks of the Ohio.

I started home between twelve and one. I cried, "Oh Lord, what have I done?!"
I've murdered the only girl I love because she would not be my wife.
And only say that you'll be mine, in no other's arms entwined.
Down beside where the waters flow, down by the banks of the Ohio.