In the year of 1862 under darkness
of the night
The highwayman would lay in wait
The traveller unaware of lady fate
and what she’d bring
She’d bring fear to those who
crossed his path
On Watling street in Buckinghamshire
And word passed out through every town
That a Vagabond may stop you, put
fear in you or drop you
Or he’d kill you as you laid your
money down
-oOo-
Stand and deliver, your money or
your life
If you ain’t got jewels and money
and pearls, I’ll have your lovely wife
Don’t you think of fighting back,
my pistols they are true
If I see you try in the blink of an
eye, I’ll put a hole in you
-oOo-
By day he was a dandy, he mixed with
the elite
Toil was the curse of the working
class, his needs it wouldn’t meet
Trimmed with lace, a powdered face,
a fancy to behold
When evening came he’d make a
change and go in search of gold
-oOo-
One night he chanced to stop a
coach, within a maiden fair
Sweet seventeen, pure innocence,
with flowing auburn hair
Her jewels and pearls and coin had
gone in a coach ahead
Frustrated, he with empty purse took
her innocence instead
But unknown to the highwayman, the
lady was engaged
Lord Terence was her groom to be, he
fell into a rage
A bounty duly advertised, the word
spread far and near
His game became more dangerous, but
still he didn’t fear
-oOo-
Lord Terence, though, a trap did
set, while the dandy lay in wait
Within the coach his trusted friends
had calmly set the bait
And outside Stony Stratford on
Watling Street that night
The Highwayman was captured, but not
without a fight
Lord Terence gasped his final
breath, a ball had pierced his heart
His final words he uttered as his
spirit did depart
Make sure he hangs on gallows hill
for his foul and dirty deed
Where the crows can fill on carrion
and the creepy crawlies feed
He’ll no longer say…
-oOo-
And tell my love I’ll wait for
her, tell her not to cry
Until that day she rides out in her
stagecoach to the sky
-oOo-
And the ghost of the highwayman said
Stand and deliver, your money or
your life
If you ain’t got jewels and money
and pearls, I’ll have your lovely wife
Don’t you think of fighting back,
my pistols they are true
If I see you try in the blink of an
eye, I’ll put a hole in you
