Turpin Hero - Ewan MacColl

On Hounslow Heath as I rode o’er

I spied a lawyer riding before.

«Kind sir,"said I, «ain't you afraid,

Of Turpin, that mischievous blade?»

O rare Turpin hero

O rare Turpin O

Said Turpin, «He'd ne’er find me out

I’ve hid my money in my boot.»

Says the lawyer, «There's none can find

Me gold for it’s stitched in me cape behind.»

O rare Turpin hero

O rare Turpin O

As they rode down by the powder mill

Turpin commands him to be still;

Says he, «Your cape I must cut off,

For my mare she wants a saddle cloth.»

O rare Turpin hero

O rare Turpin O

As Turpin rode in search of prey

He met an excise man on the way

Then boldly he did bid him stand

Your gold he said I do demand

O rare Turpin hero

O rare Turpin O

Turpin then without remorse

Soon knocked him quite from off his horse

And left him on the ground to sprawl

So he rode off with his gold and all

O rare Turpin hero

O rare Turpin O

So he rode over Salisbury Plain

He met lord judge with all his train

Then hero-like he did approach

And robbed the judge as he sat in his coach

O rare Turpin hero

O rare Turpin O

For the shooting of a dung-hill cock

Poor Turpin now at last he’s took

And carried straight into a jail

Where his ill luck he does bewail

O rare Turpin hero

O rare Turpin O

Now Turpin is condemned to die

To hang upon yon gallows high

His legacy is a strong rope

For stealing a poor dung-hill cock

O rare Turpin hero

O rare Turpin O