Banks of the Ohio

Banks of the Ohio

 

  "Banks of the Ohio" (Laws F5, Roud 157), also known as "Down on the Banks of the Ohio",

is a 19th-century murder ballad, written by unknown authors, in which "Willie" invites his young

lover for a walk during which she rejects his marriage proposal. once they are alone on the river

bank, he murders the young woman.

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The song is superficially similar to other murder ballads in the idiom such as Omie Wise and more

especially Pretty Polly, which is also generally narrated in the first person by a killer called Willie. However, it differs significantly in the narrative; the killer explains why he killed his love, and spends much of the song expressing his sorrow and regret. Musically, it is distinguished by a long refrain which calmly reflects the love and the hopes for the future which he felt before the murder.

This gives a different psychological tone to the song, and accompanying singers (or indeed the audience) the possibility of singing along in chorus.

Another not so well known version of the song is entitled on the Banks of the Old Pedee".^[1]

The lyrics are sometimes adapted for a female singer.