One of my favorites, but pretty brutal. Omie is courted by John Lewis, until she becomes pregnant, and he decides he has to kill her. Over 200 years later, and some men still make that fatal decision.
First recorded version in 1927. The murder in question occurred in 1807.
I was first introduced to this song when I heard Jerry Garcia’s version. But it’s an old, old, very old song. as old as 1656. Tom Waits has a version on his Orphans album. This version, by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, gives it the respect it deserves.