The Newry Highwayman

Lyrics

In Newry Town I was bred and born
In Stephen's Green, now I die in scorn
I spent my time in the saddling trade
But I turned out to be
But I turned out to be a roving blade.

At Seventeen I took a wife
I loved her dearly as I loved my life
And for to keep her both fine and gay
I went a robbing -- went a robbing on the King's Highway.

I never robbed any poor man yet
Nor any tradesman did I beset
But I've robbed lords and ladies bright
And took their gold home -- took their gold home to my heart's delight.

I robbed Lord Golding I do declare
And Lady Mansfield in Grosvenor Square
I shut the shutters and bade them goodnight
And took their gold home -- took their gold home to my heart's delight.

To Covenant Garden I made my way
With my dear wife for to see the play
Lord Fielding's men they did me pursue
And I was taken -- I was taken by the cursed crew.

My father cried "oh my darling son"
My wife she wept and said "I am undone."
My mother tore her white locks and cried
"Twas in the cradle -- twas in the cradle he should have died."

And when I'm dead and in my grave
A fancy funeral pray let me have
With six bold highwaymen to carry me
Give them good broadswords
Give them broadswords and liberty.

Six pretty maidens to bear my pall
Give them white dresses and garlands all
And when I'm dead they will speak the truth
He was a wild and -- he was a wild and a wicked youth.

"The Newry Highwayman" is a traditional Irish folk song about a criminal's life, deeds, and death. It is also found in England, Scotland, the USA and Canada. The earliest known broadside is from about 1830 (Bodleian Harding B 25(2054)). Some versions mention "Mansfield" and this is sometimes taken to be William Murray, first Earl of Mansfield (1706-1793). It is classified as Roud 490, Laws L012.

Other titles for this song include:
* Wild and Wicked Youth
* The Flash Lad
* In Newry Town
* Newlyn Town
* The Rambling Boy

Recordings

* Four to the Bar on their 1995 album Another Son.
* Boiled in Lead on their 1994 album Antler Dance.
* Clarence Ashley & Tex Isley, recorded it as "Rude and Rambling Man"
* The Carter Family recorded it as "The Rambling Boy"
* New Lost City Ramblers recorded it as "Rambling Boy" in 1963
* Riley Puckett recorded it as "Ramblin' Boy"
* sang it on "Fishes and Fine Yellow Sand" as "Newry Town"
* The Watersons sang it on "For Pence and Spicy Ale" as "Adieu Adieu"
* Brass Monkey sang it on "Sound and Rumour" as "The Flash Lad"
* The Yetties sang it on "A Load Old Bales" as "Adieu Adieu"
* Eliza Carthy sang it on "Red" (1998) as "Adieu Adieu"
* Solas performed it on their first self-titled album and again in their 2006 album "Reunion: A Decade of Solas".

External references

* [http://www.csufresno.edu/folklore/ballads/LL12.html Columbia State University]
* [http://www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/~zierke/watersons/songs/newrytown.html Newry Town]