Clifton Hicks - Naomi Wise (Omie Wise)

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I learned this song from George Gibson of Knott County, Kentucky. Though most of us learned the piece as "Oma Wise" or "Omie Wise," she is called Naomi Wise in actual historical documents. She was murdered by John Lewis, the son of a wealthy North Carolina slaveholder, in 1808. My antique Luscomb banjo is tuned gCGAD relative (eAEFsharpB actual). Gibson refers to it as "Omie Wise tuning," and he usually plays the tune overhand (clawhammer) style--not finger picked as I do.

Listen all you people I'll tell you no lies
I'll tell you the story of Naomi Wise,
Naomi was murdered the year was eighteen-eight,
This is her story I think it's not too late.

John Lewis said meet me down at Adams' Spring
I will bring you some money and other fine things,
Foolishly she met him down at Adams' Spring
He'd brought her no money nor other fine things.

There he beat her and strangled her 'til she could hardly speak
Then he threw her in the river where the water's twenty foot deep,
Young William was fishing out one sunny morn
When he spied Naomi's body come up in a storm.

He cast his net around her and drew her to the bank
Then he pulled her from the river and laid her on a plank,
They called for John Lewis to come to the place
They knew that he had killed her when he saw her face.

They said look all you people and see what Jack has done
He's killed his woman and never turned to run,
My name is John Lewis my name I'll never deny
I've murdered Naomi Wise and now I've come to die.

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