Omie Wise

1. I’ll tell you all a story
About poor Omie Wise,
And how she was deluded
By John Lewis’s lies..

2. When he came a courtin’
Fine stories he did tell.
He told her they’d get married
And he would treat her well..

3. One night he came and told her
They’d meet at Adams’s spring.
He said he’d bring her money
And lots of pretty things.

4. He didn’t bring no money,
He just brought her one thing.
He showed her in his pocket,
A golden wedding ring.

5. He said, “Jump up behind me;
We’ll ride a little way.
We’ll go to see the preacher
And we’ll get married today.”

6. So she jumped up behind hm,
And ridin’ they did go,
Ridin’ up Deep River,
Where the still waters flow.

7. “Well Omie, poor Omie,
I’ll tell you my mind.
My mind is for to drown you,
And leave you here behind.”

8. “Oh, pity me, oh, pity me,
Oh, pity me,” she cried.
“Just let me go a-mournin’
And not become your bride.”

9. He thre her in the river,
Just below the dam.
Then he rode off and left her,
Just like and innocent man.

10. They found poor Omie’s body,
And it was cold as clay.
They knew that John was guilty,
And arrested him that day.

11. “Oh, hang me, oh, hang me,
Oh, hang me,” he did cry.
“I drownded little Omie,
And now I wanna die.”


A North Carolina murder ballad in the tradition of English folk songs. In 1808 near Asheboro, NC, Johnathan Lewis murdered nineteen year old Naomi Wise.  He had promised to marry her, but then he had the chance to marry another and move up in society, and he killed Naomi.  He escaped before conviction, but confessed on his deathbed.