Knoxville Girl
View chords used in this chart
Capo 3 (or play F, Bb and C7)
D G D
I met a little girl in Knoxville, a town we all know well
D E7 A
And every Sunday evening, out in her home I'd dwell
D G D
We went to take an evening walk about a mile from town
D A D
I picked a stick up off the ground and knocked that fair girl down
She fell down on her bended knees for mercy she did cry
Oh Willy dear don't kill me here, I'm unprepared to die
She never spoke another word, I only beat her more
Until the ground around me within her blood did flow
I took her by her golden curls and I drug her ?round and around
Throwing her into the river that flows through Knoxville town
Go down, go down, you Knoxville girl with the dark and rolling eyes
Go down, go down, you Knoxville girl, you can never be my bride
I started back to Knoxville, got there about midnight
My Mother she was worried and woke up in a fright
Saying "Dear son, what have you done to bloody your clothes so?
I told my anxious Mother, I was bleeding at my nose
I called for me a candle to light myself to bed
I called for me a hankerchief to bind my aching head
Rolled and tumbled the whole night throught, as troubles was for me
Like flames of hell around my bed and in my eyes could see
They carried me down to Knoxville and put me in a cell
My friends all tried to get me out but none could go my bail
I'm here to waste my life away down in this dirty old jail
Because I murdered that Knoxville girl, the girl I loved so well
How to play Knoxville Girl
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is F. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.