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Deep Cuts From 1971: ‘Banks Of The Ohio”- Olivia Newton-John. This 19th century murder ballad- was recorded by Olivia Newton -John for her second album-If Not For You. While it was a hit single in the UK reaching #6- it was a #1 hit in Australia- the single was a flop on the US Billboard Hot 100 only reaching #94. The author of the song is unknown. The song had been recorded numerous times before Olivia Newton-John covered it, by The Monroe Brothers and Joan Baez among many others. It was a popular song during the folk music revival of the late 1950’s-early 1960’s. In the song Willie- invites his young lover for a walk. He asks her to marry him but she rejects him. When they are alone on the river bank he kills the young woman. Growing up I spent a lot of time on the banks of the Ohio- my grandparents lived on the banks of the Ohio.
slicethelife 
I never heard this but this isn’t bad. I like some of her music early on…more than I did later.
same here.
New to me. Nice twist to have the woman with the knife.
Good song. She was such a cutie with her shag hair cut.
That was interesting to read about your life on the banks of the Ohio with your Grandparents. You must have some wonderful memories.
I was very close to my grandparents. Still think of them every day.
Some things are well worth remembering… 🙂
Weird to see the words ‘murder ballad’ and Olivia Newton John in the same sentence! Not a bad song and much better than the dross of her later material.
I agree- her earlier stuff far superior to her late 70’s -80’s material where she must have been following bad management advice or something. The image change wasn’t a good one.