Down in the Willow Valley

I just finished listening to Down in the Willow Valley by the Chieftains featuring Bon Iver.

The murder balled, which is likely centuries old and has been covered by everyone from Art Garfunkel to Nick Cave to the Everly Brothers, is a dark of tale of a man who poisons his lover, stabs her and dumps her body in the river.

Haunting to be sure, yet there is almost a kind of sad repose in Justin Vernon’s voice. It’s lush and, in a way, soothing - which stands in stark contrast to the actual song. No matter how pretty the melody might be, it's a song about the worst kind of stuff - murder, vengeance, innocence lost, contumely, damnation and, finally, regret. 

My race is run beneath the sun
The Devil is waiting for me
For I did murder that dear little girl
Whose name was Rose Connelly