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Title
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Two jolly butchers
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Singer
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King, Thomas
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Song Lyrics
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Verse 1
It's of two jolly butchers, as I have heard them say,
Who started out from London upon a certain day,
As they were riding along the road, as fast as they could ride -
'Oh, stop your horse,' said Johnson, 'for I heard a woman cry.'
Verse 2
'I will not stop,' said Wilson, 'I will not stop,' said he,
'I will not stop,' said Wilson, 'for robbed we shall be.'
Then Johnson he got off his horse and searched the woods around,
He found a naked woman with her hair pinned to the ground.
Verse 3
'How came you here?' said Johnson, 'How came you here fast bound?
How came you here stark naked, with your hair pinned to the ground?'
'They whipped me, they stripped me, my arms and legs they bound,
They left me here stark naked with my hair pinned to the ground.'
Verse 4
Then Johnson being a valiant man, and a man of courage bold,
He took the coat all off his back to keep her from the cold;
Then Johnson being a valiant man, and a man of valiant mind,
He wrapped his coat around her and took her up behind.
Verse 5
As they were riding along the road, as fast as they could ride,
She put her fingers to her lips and gave three dreadful cries;
Then up stepped three young swaggering blades, with staffs all in their hand,
A-riding up to Johnson and bidding him to stand.
Verse 6
'I'll stand, I'll stand,' said Johnson, 'I'll stand, I'll stand,' said he,
'For never was I in all my life afraid of any three.'
Then one of them he quickly slew, and the woman he did not mind,
But she drew a knife all from his side and ripped him up behind.
Verse 7
'I must fall, I must fall,' said Johnson, 'I must fall upon the ground,
It was this wicked woman that gave me my death wound;
And she shall be hung in iron chains for what she has done,
For she's murdered the finest butcher that ever the sun shined on.'
