Debra Cowan - Bold Archer (trad) Lyrics
As I walked out one morning in May,All at the dawning of the day,I met with two brothers a-making their moan,I listen'd a while to what they did say."We have a brother in prison," said they,"Oh, in prison lieth he,If we had ten men just like ourselvesWe surely will set the prisoner free."Oh, no, oh, no” Bold Dickie says he."Oh, no, oh no, that never could be;For forty men is full little enoughIf I for to ride in their companie.""Ten to pull the horses in,Ten to guard the city about,Ten to stand at the prison door,And ten to let poor Archer out."They mounted their horses and so rode they,Who but they so merrilie ?They rode till they came to a broad riversideAnd there they alighted so manfullie.They mounted their horses and so swam they,Who but they so swiminglie!They swam till they came the the other sideAnd there they alighted so drippinglie.They mounted their horses and so rode they,Who but they so gallantlie!They rode till they came to that prison doorAnd there they alighted so daringlie." Archer, poor Archer," Bold Dickie says he,"Look you not so mournfullieI've forty men in my companieI have come to set you free.""Oh, no, Oh, no," poor Archer he cried,"Oh, no, oh, no, that never can be,I’ve forty weight of good Spanish ironBetween me ankle and my knees."But Dickie broke lock, and Dickie broke keyAnd Dickie broke everything he could see.He took the poor Archer under his armHe carried him out so manfullie.They mounted their horses and so rode they,Who but they so merrilie!They rode till they came to that broad riverside,And there they alighted so manfullie." Dickie, Bold Dickie," poor Archer he cried"Give me love to me wife and me children three,My horse he grows lame, he cannot swim,Here I am afraid that I must die."They changed their horses and so swam they,Who but they so swiminglie!They swam till they came to the other side,And there they alighted so shiveringlie." Dickie, Bold Dickie," poor Archer he cried"Look you yonder there and see,I see the High Sheriff he is a-comingA hundred men in his companie."" Dickie, Bold Dickie," High Sheriff says he,"You are the worst rascal ever I’ve seen;Go bring me back the iron you stoleAnd I will set the prisoner free.""Oh, no, oh, no," Bold Dickie says he,"Oh, no, oh no, that never could be;The iron will do to shoe our horsesThe blacksmith rides in our companie.""Dickie, Bold Dickie," High Sheriff says he,"You are the worst scoundrel ever I’ve seen.""Thank you for nothing," Bold Dickie replied,"And you are a fool for following me."
