The Trad Arr Jones

John Wesley Harding The Trad Arr Jones Lyrics
1.A Singer's Request

Dark the night and long til day
Do not bid us further stray
Dark the night and long til day
Do not bid us further stray

Now the sun it does decline
Pour the beer and pour the wine
Let us lead your thoughts astray
From the world and from the day

Dark the night and long til day
Do not bid us further stray

We bring songs from history
Love and war and mystery
We can lead you from despair
Or can chill the darkening air

Dark the night and long til day
Do not bid us further stray

And you can choose to pass us by
With a cruel or a scornful eye
We shall see the ending through
Then we'll turn and say to you

Dark the night and long til day
Do not bid us further stray
Dark the night and long til day
Do not bid us further stray
Dark the night and long til day
Do not bid us further stray


2.The Little Musgrave

As it fell out upon a day
As many in the year
Musgrave to the church did go
To see fair ladies there

And some came down in red velvet
And some came down in pall
And the last to come down was the lady barnard
The fairest of them all

She's cast a look on the little musgrave
As bright as the summer sun
And then bethought this little musgrave
This lady's love i've won

Good day good day you handsome youth
God make you safe and free
What would you give this day musgrave
To lie one night with me

I dare not for my lands, lady
I dare not for my life
For the ring on your white finger shows
You are lord barnard's wife

Lord barnard's to the hunting gone
And i hope he'll never return
And you shall slip into his bed
And keep his lady warm

There's nothing for to fear musgrave
You nothing have to fear
I'll set a page outside the gate
To watch til morning clear

And woe be to the little footpage
And an ill death may he die
For he's away to the green wood
As fast as he could fly

And when he came to the wide water
He fell on his belly and swam
And when he came to the other side
He took to his heels and ran

And when he came to the green wood
'twas dark as dark can be
And he found lord barnard and his men
Asleep beneath the trees

Rise up rise up master he said
Rise up and speak to me
Your wife's in bed with little musgrave
Rise up right speedily

If this be truth you tell to me
Then gold shall be your fee
And if it be false you tell to me
Then hanged you shall be

Go saddle me the black he said
Go saddle me the grey
And sound you not the horn said he
Lest our coming it would betray

Now there was a man in lord barnard's train
Who loved the little musgrave
And he blew his horn both loud and shrill
Away musgrave away

I think i hear the morning cock
I think i hear the jay
I think i hear lord barnard's horn
Away musgrave away

Lie still, lie still, you little musgrave
And keep me from the cold
It's nothing but a shepherd boy
Driving his flock to the fold

Is not your hawk upon its perch
Your steed is eating hay
And you a gay lady in your arms
And yet you would away

So he's turned him right and round about
And he fell fast asleep
And when he woke lord barnard's men
Were standing at his feet

And how do you like my bed musgrave
And how do you like my sheets
And how do you like my fair lady
That lies in your arms asleep

It's well i like your bed he said
And well i like your sheets
But better i like your fair lady
That lies in my arms asleep

Get up, get up young man he said
Get up as swift as you can
For it never will be said in my country
I slew an unarmed man

I have two swords in one scabbard
Full dear they cost my purse
And you shall have the best of them
I shall have the worst

So slowly, so slowly he rose up
And slowly he put on
And slowly down the stairs he goes
Thinking to be slain

And the first stroke little musgrave took
It was both deep and sore
And down he fell at barnard's feet
And word he never spoke more

And how do you like his cheeks, lady
And how do you like his chin
And how do you like his fair body
Now there's no life within

It's well i like his cheeks she said
And well i like his chin
And better i like his fair body
Than all your kith and kin

And he's taken up his long long sword
To strike a mortal blow
And through and through the lady's heart
The cold steel it did go

As it fell out upon a day
As many in the year
Musgrave to the church did go
To see fair ladies there


3.The Golden Glove

Oh it's of a young squire in tamworth we hear
And he courted a nobleman's daughter so fair
For to marry her it was his intent
And the friends and relations had given their consent

Now a date was appointed for their wedding day
And the farmer he was appointed to give her away
But as soon as the lady this farmer did spy
Her heart was inflamed and bitterly she did cry

And she turned from the squire but nothing she said
But instead of getting married she took to her bed
And the thoughts of the farmer so ran in her mind
A way for to have him she quickly did find

Coat waistcoat and trousers the young girl put on
And away she went a-hunting with her dog and her gun
And she hunted around where the farmer he did dwell
Because in her heart oh she loved him so well

And she oftentimes fired but nothing she killed
Until this young farmer came into the field
And to talk with him it was her intent
With her dog and her gun then to meet him she went

Oh i thought you would be at the wedding she cried
To wait on the squire and to give him his bride
Oh no said the farmer i'll take a sword in my hand
By honor i'd gain her whenever she command

And the lady was pleased when she heard him so bold
And she gave him a glove that was made out of gold
And she told him that she found it (as?) she was coming along
As she went out a-hunting with her dog and her gun

And this lady went home with a heart full of love
And she gave out a notice that she'd lost her glove
And whoever found it and he brings it to me
Whoever he is then my husband shall be

The farmer he was pleased when he heard of the news
And with a heart full of love to the lady he goes
Oh lady oh lady i've picked up your glove
And i hope that you'll be pleased for to grant me some love

Oh it's already granted (and?) i will be your bride
For i love the sweet breath of the farmer she cried
I'll be mistress of your dairy and i'll milk all your cows
While me jolly old farmer goes whistling on his plow

And its when they got married and they told of the fun
How she'd gone out a-hunting with her dog and her gun


4.Annachie Gordon

Buchan, it's bonny, oh and there lives my love
My heart it lies on him, it will not remove
It will not remove for all that i have done
Oh never will i forget my love annachie
For annachie gordon, oh he's bonny and he's braw
He'd entice any woman that ever him saw
He'd entice any woman and so he has done me
Oh never will i forget my love annachie

Down came her father, standing on the floor
Saying jeanie you're trying the tricks of a whore
You care nothing for a man who cares so very much for thee
You must marry with lord salton and leave young annachie
For annachie gordon he's only but a man
Although he may be pretty but where are all his lands
Salton's lands are broad and his towers they stand high
You must marry with lord salton and forget young annachie

With annachie gordon oh i'd beg for my bread
Before that i'd marry salton with gold to my head
With gold to my head and with gowns fringed to the knee
Oh i'll die if i don't get my love annachie
And you that are my parents oh to church you may me bring
Ah but unto lord salton oh i'll never bear a son
A son or a daughter oh i'll never bow my knee
Oh, i'll die if i don't get my love annachie

When jeanie was married and from church she was brought home
And she and her maidens so merry should have been
When she and her maidens so merry should have been
Oh she's gone to a chamber and she's crying all alone

Come to bed now jeanie, oh my honey and my sweet
For to style you my mistress it would not be meet
Oh it's mistress or jeanie it's all the same to me
For it's in your bed lord salton i never shall be
And up and spoke her father and he's spoken with renown
All you who are her maidens won't you loosen off her gown
But she fell down in a swoon, so low down by their knees
Saying look on for i'm dying for my love annachie

The day that jeanie married was the day that jeanie died
That's the day that young annachie come rolling from the tide
And down came her maidens and they're wringing of their hands
Saying woe to you annachie for staying from the sands
So long from the land and so long upon the flood
Oh they've married your jeanie and now she is dead

All you that are her maidens won't you take me by the hand
Won't you lead me to the chamber that my love lies in
And he's kissed her cold lips until his heart turned to stone
And he's died in the chamber where his true love lay in


5.The Flandyke Shore

I went unto my love's chamber window
Where i often had been before
Just to let her know unto flandyke shore
Unto flandyke shore
Never to return to england no more
Never to return to england no more

I went unto my love's chamber door
Where i never had been before
There i saw a light springing from her clothes
Springing from her clothes
Just as the morning sun when first arose
Just as the morning sun when first arose

As i was walking on the flandyke shore
Her own dear father i did meet
My daughter she is dead he cried
She is dead he cried
And she's broken her heart all for the love of thee
So i hove a bullet on to fair england's shore
On to fair england's shore
Just where i thought that my own true love did lay


6.William And Nancy's Parting

Come all you pretty maidens that have a mind to go
All along with your lover for to face the daring foe
I've a mind to venture where the cannonballs do fly
All along with my love i'll go

He says 'my lovely nancy i hope you'll not repine
For i must go onboard our noble fleet to join
Our orders are to sea my dear and now we must obey
And behind me you must stay'

She says 'my lovely william oh don't you leave me here
I'll dress me as a seaman and along with you i'll steer
Oh let me go along with you your mess mate for to be
And i'll fight so manfully'

He says 'my lovely nancy great danger is at sea
Perhaps we may be shipwrecked or else be cast away
And in the line of battle perhaps you may be slain
So behind me you must remain'

'your pretty little fingers they are so long and small
You'll think it but hard usage our cable ropes to haul
When the winds they do blow high and the billows loudly roar
At home you must be on shore'

So now my love has gone abroad as i do tell you plain
Kind heaven shall protect him as he's ploughing on the main
Protect him from all danger where the cannonballs do fly
And send my william home again


7.William Glenn

Oh it's of a ship and a ship of fame
Launched off the stocks, bound to sail the main
With one hundred and fifty brisk young men
Well picked and chosen every one
And william glenn was the captain's name
He was a fine and a tall young man
As fine a sailor as sailed the sea
And we were sailing to new barbary

On the first of april, then we set sail
Blessed with a fine and a prosperous gale
And we were bound for new barbary
With all of our whole ship's company
We hadn't been sailing a league or two
Til all of our whole ship's jovial crew
They all fell sick but 63
As we were sailing to new barbary

One night the captain then he did dream
A voice came to him and said to him
'prepare yourself and your company
For tomorrow night you must lie with me'
This woke the captain in a terrible fright
It being the third watch of the night
And aloud for the bosun then he did call
And to him told his secrets all

'bosun' he said 'it grieves my heart
To think i've played a villain's part
A man i slew in staffordshire
And all for the sake of his lady fair
And of the ghost of that i am afraid
That has in me such terror bred
So keep the secret within your breast
And pray to the lord that he gives you rest'

We hadn't been a sailing a league but three
Til raging grew the roaring sea
There rose a tempest up in the skies
Which did our seamen much surprise
And the main mast sprung by the break of day
Which made our rigging all but to give way
And did our seamen much afright
The terrors of that awful night

And then the bosun he did declare
That the captain was a murderer
This so enraged the whole ship's crew
That overboard our captain threw
Our treacherous captain he being gone
Immediately there came a calm
And the winds abated and so did the sea
And we went sailing to new barbary

And when we came to the spanish shore
Our good little ship for to repair
The people there were amazed to see
Our dismal case and such misery
Now seamen all wherever you may be
I pray you take a warning from me
As you love life won't you have care
And never go sailing with a murderer


8.The Bonny Bunch Of Roses

By the margin of the ocean
One pleasant evening in the month of june
The pleasant singing blackbird
His charming notes to tune
Then i saw a woman
All in great grief and woe
Conversing with young bonaparte
Concerning the bonny bunch of roses, oh

And then up and spoke the young napoleon
And he took hold of his mother's hand
Oh mother dear be patient
And soon i will take command
I'll raise a terrible army
And through tremendous danger go
And in spite of all of the universe
I'll conquer the bonny bunch of roses, oh

And when first you saw the great napoleon
You fell down on your bended knee
And you asked your father's life of him
And he's granted it most manfully
Then he took an army
And over the frozen alps did go
He said i'll conquer moscow
And come back for the bonny bunch of roses, oh

And so he's took three hundred thousand fighting men
And kings likewise for to join his throng
He was as well provided for
Enough to take the whole world along
But when he came to moscow
All overpowered by driving snow
And moscow was a-blazing
And he lost the bonny bunch of roses-o

Oh my son don't speak so venturesome
For england she has a heart of oak
And england and ireland and scotland
Their unity has never been broke
So son think on your father
In st.helena, his body it lies low
And you will follow after
Beware of the bonny bunch of roses, oh

And it's goodbye to my mother forever
For i am on my dying bed
Had i lived i might have been clever
But now i bow my youthful head
And while our bodies do molder
And weeping willows over us do grow
The deeds of brave napoleon
Will sting the bonny bunch of roses-o


9.Master Kilby

In the heat of the day
When the sun shines so freely
There i met master kilby
So fine and so gay

I pulled off my hat
And i bowed to the ground
And i said 'master kilby
Oh, where are you bound?'

'i'm bound for the west
In hope to find rest
In the arms of my dear nancy
I'll build a new nest

And if i was the master
Of ten thousand pounds
In bright gold and silver
Or in king william's crown

I would part with it all
With my own heart so freely
It's all for the sake
Of my charming nancy

She's the fairest of girls
She's the choice of my heart
And her skin shines like silver
In every part

Oh, i gave her some kisses
It was down on the sea shore
But still she lay asking
Lay asking for more'


10.Annan Water

Oh annan water's wondrous deep
And my love annie's wondrous bonny
I'm loathed that she should wet her feet
Because i love her best of any
Go saddle to me my bonny grey mare
Go saddle her soon and make her ready
For i must cross that river tonight
And all to see my bonny lady

And woe betide you annan water
At night you are a gloomy river
And over you i'll build a bridge
That never more true love may sever

He has ridden over field and fell
On moor and moss and many a mile
His spurs of steel were sore to bite
And from the mare's feet flew the fire
The mare flew over moss and moor
And when she'd won the annan water
She couldn't have ridden a furlong more
Had a thousand whips been laid upon her

And woe betide you annan water
At night you are a gloomy river
And over you i'll build a bridge
That never more true love may sever

Oh boatman come put up your boat
Put up your boat for gold and money
For i must cross that stream tonight
Or never more i'll see my annie
The sides are steep, the waters deep
From bank to brae the waters pouring
And your bonny grey mare she sweats for fear
She stands to hear the waters roaring

And woe betide you annan water
At night you are a gloomy river
And over you i'll build a bridge
That never more true love may sever

And he has tried to swim that stream
And he swam on both strong and steady
But the river was broad and strength did fail
And he never saw his bonny lady
Oh woe betide the willow wand
And woe betide the bush of briar
For it broke beneath the true lover's hand
When strength did fail and limbs did tire

And woe betide you annan water
At night you are a gloomy river
And over you i'll build a bridge
That never more true love may sever


11.The Isle Of France

Oh the sky was dark and the night advanced
When a convict came to the isle of france
And round his leg was a ringing chain
And his country was of the shamrock green

I'm from the shamrock this convict cried
That has been tossed on the ocean wide
For being unruly i do declare
I was doomed to transport these seven long years

When six of them they were up and past
I was coming home to make up the last
When the winds did blow and the seas did roar
They cast me here on this foreign shore

So then the coastguard he played a part
And with some brandy, he cheered the convict's heart
Although the night is far advanced
You shall find a friend on the isle of france

So he sent a letter all to the queen
Concerning the wreck of the shamrock green
And his freedom came by a speedy post
For the absent convict they thought was lost

God bless the coastguard this convict cried
For he's saved my life from the ocean wide
And i'll drink his health in a flowing glass
And here's success to the isle of france