Down by the cold water's edge
And the path is long overgrown that runs along the ledge
Where the rocks dry black in the sun
William, oh William what have you done?
He was born in a clapboard box
To a Mama who called him dear
She said "In this life whatever you do, of the bottle you must stay clear
For it did your poor father no favors my son"
William, oh William what have you done?
A young man's path is set
When a fair maid takes his eye
So he bought her the prettiest dress and took her to be his wife
To live up where the cold waters run
William, oh William what have you done?
Now the straight and narrow is a crooked road to tend
And it always leads the thirsty right back to the well again
Now he sits alone each night
With that horrible sound in his ears
And he cries out, but there's no one there, no one to call him dear
For bottles will empty
And true love will end
And the prettiest blue flowered dresses will rend
And blood will dry black in the sun
William, oh William what have you done?