Brennan on the Moor
A brace of loaded pistols he carried with him each day,
He never robbed a poor man upon the king's highway,
But what he'd taken from the rich, like Turpin and Black Bess,
He always did divide it with the window in distress.
(Chorus)
One night he robbed an Irishman by the name of Jubr Bawn,
The travelled on together till the day began to dawn,
The Jubr found his money gone, likewise his watch and chain,
Then he at once encountered him and robbed him back again.
(Chorus)
When Willie found the packman was as good a man as he,
He took him on the highway, his companion for to be.
The packman threw away his pack without any more delay,
And he proved a faithful comrade all on the King's highway.
(Chorus)
One day upon the highway as Willie passed along,
He met the Earl of Wexford just one mile from the town.
The earl he knew his features; "I think, young man," said he,
"That your name is William Brennan, you must come along with me."
(Chorus)
Now Willie's wife, she being in town provisions for to buy,
When she saw her Willie taken she began to sob and cry.
"Oh, hand to me the tenpenny," these words to her he spoke,
She handed him a blunderbuss from underneath her cloak.
(Chorus)
It's with the loaded blunderbuss, the truth I will unfold,
He made the mayor tremble, and robbed him of his gold.
One hundred pounds he offered for his apprehension there,
And he with horse and saddle to the mountains did repair.
(Chorus)
He at length was taken prisoner in irons he was bound,
He was taken then to Clonmore jail where strong walls did him surround,
The jury found him guilty, the judge made this reply,
"For robbing on the King's highway, young Brennan, you must die."
(Chorus)
