Bold Preachers (Stuart Henry Show radio session 23/7/70) Songtext
von Steeleye Span

Concerning of three young men one night in January
A court in laws contrary approaching went straight way
They was inclined to ramble o′er moor and moss and bramble
Where pheasants they do tremble and keepers do draw near
These keepers dared not enter nor care the woods to venture
But outside round their centre all in ambush they stood
The poachers soon grew tired to leave they soon desired
But then young Parkin's fired and spilled one keepers blood
He on the ground lay dying and in his blood and lying
And no assistance flying to see him where he lay
And as they were leaving and on the way were speeding
The other keeper he come a stealing they fired at him also


He on the ground lay bleeding and for his life a pleading
While through the woods come a speeding his mournful pity cry
They were taken with speed all for that inhuman deed
For them there was no reprieve all in they court next day
The judge and jury tried us and we for pity cried us
Oh mercy don′t deny us we're not prepared to die
The jury they consulted some said we should be jailed
And others said transported the judge thought we should die
The likes before was never brothers condemned together
Brothers condemned together found guilty as they were
Exiled in transportation two of them across the ocean
And the third one hung as a token may God forgive his crime