Lyric discussion by autoerratica 

Cover art for Knoxville Girl lyrics by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

there are apparently a shitload of folk songs that follow this structure

"Wexford Girl, The (The Oxford, Lexington, or Knoxville Girl; The Cruel Miller; etc.) [Laws P35] DESCRIPTION: The singer invites the girl for a walk. They discuss their wedding. Then he takes up a club and attacks her. She begs him to spare her life. He beats her to death and throws her in the river. He is taken and hanged"

http://www.fresnostate.edu/folklore/ballads/LP35.html

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