Poor Ellen Smith \ Murder Ballad Folk Song \ Banjo version

Poor Ellen Smith Traditional folk song. Murder Ballad and Love Song all in one.
Clawhammer Mountain Banjo Version
Arranged and performed by, Dan D. Dirges

Poor Ellen Smith - Lyrics
Banjo in standard tuning only tuned down to the key of D

Poor Ellen Smith how she was found
Shot through the heart lying cold on the ground
Her clothes were all scattered and thrown on the ground
And blood marks the spot where poor Ellen was found

They loaded up their rifles and hunted me down
And found me a-loafin all around the town
They picked up her body and carried it away
And now she is sleeping in some lonesome old grave

I got a letter yesterday and read it today
The flowers on her grave have all faded away
Some day I'll go home and stay when I go
On poor Ellen's grave pretty flowers I'll sow

I've been in this prison for twenty long years
Each night I see Ellen through my bitter tears
The warden just told me that soon I'll be free
To go to her grave near that old willow tree

My days in this prison are ending at last
But I'll never be free from the sins of my past
Poor Ellen Smith how she was found
Shot through the heart lying cold on the ground