"Banks of the Ohio"[1][2] (Roud 157, Laws F5), also known as "Down on the Banks of the Ohio" and "I'll Never Be Yours",[3] is a 19th-century murder ballad, written by unknown authors. The lyrics tell of "Willie" who invites his young lover for a walk during which she rejects his marriage proposal, and once they are alone on the river bank, he murders the young woman.
The song was first recorded by country musicians such as Clarence Horton Greene in 1927, and has been performed by many country and folk singers since. Olivia Newton-John released a version in 1971 and her recording reached No. 1 in Australia and No. 6 in the UK.