Down in the Willow Garden

"Down in the Willow Garden" (Roud 446), also known as "Rose Connelly",[1][2] is a traditional Appalachian murder ballad. It is written from the perspective of a man facing the gallows for the murder of his lover, to whom he gave poisoned wine, then stabbed, and threw in a river.[2][3] It originated in the 19th century, probably in Ireland, before becoming established in the United States.[4][5] The lyrics greatly vary among earlier versions, but professional recordings have stabilized the song in a cut-down form.[5] First professionally recorded in 1927, it was made popular by Charlie Monroe's 1947 version, and it has been recorded dozens of times since then.

  1. ^ Variously spelled Connoley, Conley, Connally, Condolee, Connilley, Condelee, Congalee, Cumberly, or Caudeley, see Wilgus, 1979.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference rural was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Goddu, Teresa (1998). "Bloody Daggers and Lonesome Graveyards". In Ceceila Tichi (ed.). Reading country music: steel guitars, opry stars, and honky-tonk bars. Duke University Press. p. 53. ISBN 0-8223-2168-8.
  4. ^ Cox, John Harrington (1998). Folk-Songs of the South: Collected Under the Auspices of the West Virginia Folk-Lore Society. Pelican Publishing. p. 314. ISBN 1-56554-592-3.
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference irish was invoked but never defined (see the help page).