Down in the Willow Garden

"Down in the Willow Garden", 

also known as "Rose Connelly" 

is a traditional Appalachian murder ballad 

about a man facing the gallows for the murder 

of his lover: he gave her poisoned wine, stabbed her, 

and threw her in a river. 

It originated in the 19th century, probably in Ireland, 

before becoming established in the United States.

"Down in the willow garden, me and my love did meet
And as we sat a-courting, my love fell off to sleep

I had a bottle of burgundy wine; my love, she did not know

And so I poisoned that dear little girl along the banks below

Along the banks below

I drew my saber through her; it was a bloody night

I threw her in the river, which was a dreadful sight

My father often told me that money would set me free

And so I murdered that dear little girl whose name was Rose Connelly

Whose name was Rose Connelly

My father sits at his cabin door wiping his tear-dimmed eyes

His only son soon should walk to yonder scaffold high

My race is run beneath the sun; the scaffold now waits for me

For I did murder that dear little girl whose name was Rose Connelly

Whose name was Rose Connelly

Whose name was Rose Connelly."