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The Poacher's Fate

by Laura Smyth & Ted Kemp

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    Double gatefold card case, featuring album artwork by Laura Smyth and liner notes.

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1.
Come all you lads of high renown that love to drink strong ale that's brown We'll bring those lofty pheasants down with powder, shot, and gun I and five more a poaching went to kill some game was our intent As through the woods we gaily went no other sport we'd try And the moon shone bright not a cloud in sight The keeper heard us fire our gun and to the spot did quickly run He swore before the rising sun that one of us should die The bravest youth amongst our lot t'was his misfortune to be shot His deeds will never be forgot by those he loved below He was a gallant youth I will tell the truth His memory ever shall be blessed he rose again to stand the test But down upon his gallant breast the crimson blood did flow This youth he sank upon the ground and in his breast a mortal wound While through the woods the guns did sound that took his life away For help he cried But was denied Deep was the wound the keeper gave no mortal man his life could save He now lies sleeping in his grave until his judgement day His case it makes the heart lament, our comrades all to gaol were sent Our enemies seemed fully bent that there we would remain But fortune changed her mind and to us proved kind No more locked up in midnight cells to hear the turnkey boast their bells Those clanging doors we'll bid farewell and the rattling of the chains The murderous hand that did him kill and on the ground his blood did spill Must wander e're against his will and find no resting place Destructive things his conscience stings Condemned to wander all forlorn and ever feel the smarting thorn Be pointed out with the finger of scorn condemned for to die Come all you lads of high renown that love to drink strong ale that's brown We'll bring those lofty pheasants down with powder, shot, and gun
2.
How strange it is to think that a poor beggar girl like me Should now be known to all that live across this broad county I was born and raised at Malkin Tower where I expected to remain But now I've been condemned to die, I'll never see my home again My mother is a poor woman my father I've never known My grandmother, a wise-woman, she raised me as her own She taught me all that she did know when I was still a child And together we would ramble o're the moors for miles How I wish I was still on the moors of Pendle Hill Where the sweet heather blooms all the day One day as I was walking in the spring time of the year I met with a bold pedlar on the road through Lancashire Kind sir, said I, please stop awhile and sell three pins to me For I have two and sixpence which I'll gladly spend with thee He looked at my torn petticoat and to me these words did say You take me for a fool, young girl, I know you cannot pay If you have two and sixpence, then I'm the king of Spain And then he turned away from me and walked on just the same How I wish... And when he spoke these spiteful words it made my heart full sore I vowed he would not speak such words to young maids anymore And at these thoughts my will was done, down the pedlar fell And all the while I feared that I had damned my soul to hell Can life be such a feeble thing to perish at a whim Though men may not forgive my crimes may god forgive my sins Farewell mother, my brother, and my sister too And when I'm covered in cold clay, may the lord watch over you How I wish..
3.
There is a tavern in yonder town Where my true love goes and sets him down He takes another girl on his knee Now don't you think that's a grief for me? A grief a grief and I'll tell you why Because she has got more gold than I But her looks will fade and her beauty will pass And then poor girl she'll come like me at last O when my apron it tied low He followed me through frost and snow But now it ties underneath my chin He passes my by and he says nothing There is a blackbird in yonder tree They say its blind and it cannot see I wish it had of been so by me Before I'd kept my love's company Now all young girls be advised by me Never let a stranger take you on his knee He'll court and kiss you, swear to be true But the very next moment he'll bid you adieu My heart is weary with all this grief For my true love was worse than a thief A thief will rob you and run away But a false young man will lead you astray Go dig my grave long wide and deep Put marble stones at my head and feet Plant a red rose bush in the middle of me For I loved that lad but he didn't love me
4.
Come all you thoughtless young men A warning take by me And think of my unhappy fate To be hanged upon a tree My name is William Corder The truth I do declare I courted Maria Marten Both beautiful and fair I promised that I'd marry her All on one certain day Instead of that I was resolved To take her life away I went unto her father's house The eighteenth day of May Saying: "come my dearest Maria Let us fix our wedding day" "If you'll meet me at the Red Barn, As sure as I have life I'll take you down to Ipswich town And there make you my wife" I straight went home and fetched my gun My pickaxe and my spade I went unto the Red Barn And there I dug a grave With heart so light she thought no harm To meet me she did go I murdered her all in the barn And I laid her body low Now all things being silent She could not take no rest But appeared at her mother's house That had suckled her at her breast Her mother dreamed a dreadful dream She dreamed it three nights o'er She dreamed her dearest Maria Lay beneath the Red Barn floor She sent her father to the barn And in the ground he thrust And there he saw his daughter dear All a-mingling with the dust Adieu Adieu remember me My glass is almost run For early in the morning I am sentenced to the be hung So all young men that do pass by With pit look on me For the murder of Maria Marten I was hanged upon a tree
5.
Cecilia 04:05
Cecilia on one certain day She dressed herself in man's array With a brace of pistols all by her side To meet her true love, to meet her true love To meet her true love away did ride She met him boldly on the plain Stand and deliver she said young man Stand and deliver young man she said Or else this moment, or else this moment Or else this moment your life I'll lay She robbed him of his watch and gold Gave him the empty purse to hold Saying there's one thing more on your finger now Deliver it to me, deliver it to me Deliver it your life to spare This diamond ring a token was Before I'd lose it I'd lose my life She being tender hearted more like a dove She rode away, she rode away She rode away from her own true love Now early next morning plain to be seen This couple walked on the garden green When he saw his watch hanging by her clothes Which made him blush, which made him blush Which made him blush like the damask rose How can you blush at such a thing More if I'd had your diamond ring For it was I who robbed you upon the plain So take your gold love, so take your gold love So take your gold love and watch again Why did you enter such a foolish plot Suppose your pistol you would have shot And if you had killed me out on the plain Forever after, forever after Forever after you'd be brought to shame I did intend and twas to know Whether your love it was true or no But now I have a contented mind My love and all, my love and all My love and all, dear, they are thine So this couple married were And they do live a most happy pair For the bells do ring and the music play And they have pleasure, and they have pleasure And they have pleasure both night and day
6.
7.
Here's adieu to all judges and juries Justice and old bailey too Seven years I'm parted from my true love Seven years I'm transported you know O Polly I'm going for to leave you For seven long years love or more But the time it won't seem but one moment When I think on the girl I adore How hard is a place of confinement That keeps me from my heart's delight Cold irons and cold chains bound around me And a plank for my pillow at night If I had the wings of an eagle Over the seas I would fly I'd fly to the arms of my true love And forever contented we'd lie And if ever I return from the ocean Stores of riches I'll bring for my dear And it's all for the sake of my true love I'll cross the salt seas without fear
8.
Going down the dale by Alphin they heard John Andrew's horn And every lad worth rearing was hunting bread and born The squire and the poor man, hand in hand went they And the life was worth the living in old John Andrew's day In Whitebrook fields by Alderman a brown hare was bread That oft' o'er top of Board Hill the Friezland hounds had led But on a hunting morning he wound his horn and swore That the brown hare of Whitebrook will double back no more To mi fol de rol de day, to mi fol de rol de day There never came from heaven a fairer questing morn The white mist lay on Wharmton like the blossom on the thorn But the fairest sight of all, the glory of the scene Were those merry lads from Greenfield in their hunting red and green She sat that morn at Tunstead beneath a white thorn tree Of all the hares in Saddleworth the bonniest was she The spirit of the moorwind was in her bounding leap And the love of every hunter went with her up the steep They brought the famous Bounty, the pride of Bockin Hall The fleetest hound in all the land to bring about her fall They gave her "view halloa" when they saw her break away Like a sunbeam through a gap-hole the Whipper-in did say They took the fields to Brockley and o'r the heather height She caught the rising moorcock and matched him in his flight Fleet Bounty swept the bracken like a russle of the wind But the brown hare of Whitebrook kept leaving them behind They bowled along to Rimmon side and Towler led the pack And never hare dare loiter with Towler on her track They danced the royal music yon Birchen Clough across With the scent knee-deep behind them along the Ashway Moss They headed o'er for Slate Pit and Bounty was the cry That gallant hound in answer rose amongst the moor grass high "She's shot her bolt", said Andrew's, when he saw her break and fail And he sounded 'gone-away lads' down bonny Longdendale They went that night to Boarshurst a hunting cup to fill Said Andrews "Merry gentlemen, this day we've failed to kill But so long as I be huntsman, I swear it now", said he "That the brown hare of Whitebrook shall live in peace for me"
9.
Brave Benbow 02:51
Oh come good people all young and old, young and old oh come good people all young and old it's of an Admiral brave called Benow by his name how he fought on the raging main you shall hear, you shall hear Brave Benbow he set sail for to fight, for to fight Brave Benbow he set sail for to fight Brave Benbow he set sail in a sweet and pleasant gale but his captains they turned tail in a fright, in a fright Says Kirby unto Wade "I will run, I will run" Says Kirby unto Wade "I will run" "For I value no disgrace, even losing of my place but the enemy I won't face nor their guns, nor their guns" So Brave Benbow gave the signal for to fight, for to fight so Brave Benbow gave the signal for to fight the ships boxed up and down and the shots they flew all around and the men came tumbling down, there they lay, there they lay Admiral Benbow lost his legs by chain shot, by chain shot Admiral Benbow lost his legs by chain shot he down on his stumps did fall and quite bitterly he did call "Fight on my British Tars, 'tis my lot, 'tis my lot" While the surgeon dressed his wounds oh he cried, oh he cried while the surgeon dressed his wounds oh he cried "Let my cradle now in haste, on the quarter deck be placed that the enemy I may face 'til I'm dead, 'til I'm dead 'Twas on tuesday morning last Benbow died, Benbow died 'twas on tuesday morning last Benbow died 'twas a shocking sight to see, Admiral Benbow carried away he was buried in Kingston church, there he lay, there he lay.
10.
It's coming down to Manchester to gain my liberty, I met one of the prettiest girls that ever my eyes did see I met one of the prettiest girls that ever my eyes dd see At the Angel Inn in Manchester, there is the girl for me. Then early next morning, just at the break of day, I went to my love's bedside, my morning vows to pay. I kissed her and I cuddled her, I bade her to lie warm; She said: "My jolly soldier, do you nean me any harm ?' "To mean you any harm, my love, is a thing that I do scorn. If you would lie in bed with me, I'll marry you in the morn. Before my lawful officer, my vows I will fulfil." She said, " My jolly soldier, you may lie as long as you will.' Our rout came on Monday and on Thursday we marched away. The drums and bugles so sweetly they did play. Some hearts they were merry, but mine was full of woe. She says: "May I go along with you ? " " Oh no, my love, oh no." "If you should stand a sentry on a cold and bitter day, Your colours they would fade, my love, your beauty would decay, Your colours they would fade, my love, your beauty would decay So stay at home, dear Nancy." But still she answered, "Nay" "I'll go down to your officer, and I'll buy your discharge, Ten guineas I'll surrender if they'll set you at large. And if that will not do my love, then with you I will go, So may I go along with you?" And still he answered:"No." "1'll go down in some nunnery and there I'll end my life. I'll never be contented nor yet become a wife. But constant and true-hearted, love, forever I'll remain, And never will get married till my soldier comes again"
11.
Wild Rover 03:45
Well I've been a wild rover for many long years and I've spent all my money on tobacco and beer but I've given up wild roving, put my money in store And I never will play the wild rover no more wild rover, wild rover no more and I never will play the wild rover no more I went to a ale house that I used to frequent and I told the landlady my money was spent I asked for a glass and they answered me "nay" Such a customer as you I can find any day (chorus) I put my hand in my pocket and from it I drew a handful of notes on the counter I threw now I could have had whisky or brandy galore but I never will play the wild rover no more (chorus) I'll go to my father, tell him what I've done and hope that he'll pardon his prodigal son I'll go to my mother and there I'll remain and I never will play the wild rover again (chorus) and its no nay never no never no more and I never will play the wild rover no more (chorus)
12.
One evening for my pastime a ramble I did take Down by yon crystal fountain called Carrickmannon Lake Down by yon crystal fountain an image I did view Sure nature never could design an image quite like you With courage bold undaunted I boldly then set forth Saying my delightful charmer you venus of the North Give me my way or else I'll stray my one and only joy And sure it would be a pity for to kill a harmless boy With flashing eye and ne'er a sigh she coldly said to me "Young man depart for in my heart no place is decked for thee" And to my further pleading no answer would she make But turned away and left me there by, Carrickmannon Lake Killinchy is my dwelling place where first my breath I drew Drumreagh it is my parent's place, ten thousand times adieu All for her sake I'll passage take across the stormy seas A pilgrim there to do and dare in North Americee Now all young men take warning and shun Killinchy fair Likewise sweet Carrickmannon for that false one lives there And as the sun's declining o'er yonder hill so clear The shadow of her dwelling in the lake it does appear

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released November 25, 2017

All tracks trad. arr. Laura Smyth & Ted Kemp, except Alizon Device, written by Laura Smyth and arranged by Laura Smyth & Ted Kemp.

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