Down by the river Saile. Three loud knocks came a'knocking on the door Weela Weela Walya Three loud knocks came a'knocking on the door Down by the river Saile. Two policemen and a man Weela Weela Walya Two policemen and a man Down by the river Saile. "Are you the woman that killed the child?" Weela Weela Walya "Are you the woman that killed the child?" Down by the river Saile. "I am the woman that killed the child" Weela Weela Walya "I am the woman that killed the child" Down by the river Saile. They took her away and they put her in jail Weela Weela Walya They took her away and they put her in jail Down by the river Saile. Alternate Ending: They took her up and strung her by the neck Weela Weela Walya They took her up and strung her by the neck Down by the river Saile. And that was the end of the woman in the woods Weela Weela Walya And that was the end of the woman in the woods Down by the river Saile. In culture The song's morbid theme of infanticide, juxtaposed with its childish nature, has made it popular as a cultural reference. It is mentioned in Sebastian Barry's novel Annie Dunne, Hannah Kent's novel The Good People, and Daniel Shortell's novel th!s, and forms a substantial inspiration for the film The Hole in the Ground, which also features Lisa Hannigan's version of the song. Notes References Murder ballads Irish folk songs Songs about child abuse Irish children's songs Traditional children's songs Year of song unknown The Dubliners songs Infanticide