Down in the Willow Garden

"Down in the Willow Garden" (Roud 446), also known as "Rose Connelly", 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. It originated in the 19th century, probably in Ireland, before becoming established in the United States. The lyrics greatly vary among earlier versions, but professional recordings have stabilized the song in a cut-down form. 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.