"My bolsted feathers are dingling. The whole length of day. I have but the cold floor to walk on. To pass the time away." He was thrown in the gallows for the murder of his beloved.

"Down in the Willow Garden", also known as "Rose Connelly" is a traditional Appalachian murder ballad, written by The Everly Brothers, about a man facing the gallows for the murder of his lover: he gave her poisoned wine, stabbed her, and threw her 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 and has even been created into various poems.

I think it has become so popular because of the story that the ballad tells. It is clearly about murder and that stands out for people because it's not all that normal to murder people... unless your'e into that sort of thing.

Down in the Willow garden. Where me and my love did meet. As we sat a-courtin'. My love fell off to sleep. I had a bottle of Burgundy wine.My love she did not know. So I poisoned that dear little girl. On the banks below. I drew a sabre through her. It was a bloody knife. I threw her in the river. Which was a dreadful sign. My father often told me. That money would set me free. If I would murder that dear little girl. Whose name was Rose Connolly. My father sits at his cabin door. Wiping his tear-dimmed eyes. For his only son soon shall walk. To yonder scaffold high. My race is run, beneath the sun. The scaffold now waits for me. For I did murder that dear little girl. Whose name was Rose Connelly. In this version he kills her by poison, then stabbing her in the stomach because of her pregnancy, and then throws her into the river with no regret of remorse.