The ToneWay® Project: helping people play music


Banks of the Ohio [core]

I asked my love to take a walk
Just to walk a little way
As we walk, may we talk
All about our wedding day

Chorus
Only say that you'll be mine
In our home we'll happy be
Down beside where the waters flow
On the banks of the Ohio

I drew my knife across her breast
As into my arms, she gently pressed
She cried, "Oh Willie, don't murder me
I'm not prepared for eternity."

I took her by her lily white hand
I led her down and I made her stand
There I pushed her in to drown
And watched her as she floated down

Returning home 'tween twelve and one
Thinking of the deed I done
I murdered the only girl I loved
Because she would not marry me

The very next mornin' about half past four
The sheriff's men knocked on my door
He said: "Young man, come now and go
Down to the banks of the Ohio."

Available in these books:

Get Started Plus:
Core Songs Edition
100 songs and our acclaimed play-by-ear learning method.
Big Print Songs
Over 200 songs.
Both books feature large-print lyrics (20-point type) and include chords, historical info, jamming hints, and more.

...and on these CDs:

Five CDs, 100 songs. Recordings from the Abbott family and their friends.
Listen to sample tracks.

The MP3 collection has all 100 songs on one CD for a discount. See details.


A song from the Mountain Music for Everyone Song Collection from the ToneWay Project. Our website has lyrics to nearly 400 traditional songs common in bluegrass and old-time circles. Most songs also include a free MP3 recording that you can listen to. The ToneWay Project also offers songbooks, CDs, and resources for learning to play music by ear. http://ToneWay.com