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The Bristol Highwayman, Drowsy Maggie

from First Brew by Mitchell and Vincent

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    CD of the album First Brew set in a full colour card case with the main painting cover image of “Teapot #1” by the Somerset artist Mary Lynch which is also on the CD face.
    Inside features a photo of 'The Fiddler's fingers' by John Barwood and a photo taken at Villa Veertien (Dieren, The Netherlands).
    On the back is a full track listing of the nine sets of tunes and songs.
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about

There seems to be variants of this song (probably from the C18th) in the U.S.A., Canada and Ireland as well as England with titles including: Newlyn or Newry Town, Adieu, Adieu, The Flash Lad and The Rambling Blade ... so we've added one more!
We've based our version around one probable focus of the song who was called Jack Rann. He was born in Bristol but seems to have preferred to rob away from home, doing all his daylight robbery ‘on the King’s highway’ in central London.
Drowsy Maggie is a popular tune that we were getting asked to play so tried it here and it seemed to work! It probably dates from the mid 1800s.

lyrics

The Bristol Highwayman

G D C G
In Bristol town I was bred and born,
D C G
In Newgate now I lie in scorn.
Am C D
I served my time in the saddling trade,
G C D
I always was the rovin' blade,
G C G
I always was the rovin' blade.

At seventeen I took a wife
I loved her dearer than I loved me life
And so to keep her both fine and gay
I went out robbing on the king's highway
I went out robbing on the king's highway

I never robbed a poor man yet
Nor lately caused anyone to fret
But I robbed lords and ladies fine
And I carried the gold home to me heart's delight
I carried the gold home to me heart's delight

I robbed Lord Baldwin, I do declare
And Lady Manswell up in Grovenors Square
I closed me shutters and bade them good night
And I carried the gold home to me heart's delight
I carried the gold home to me heart's delight

To Covent Garden I made my way
With me dear wife for to see the play
The Fielding's men there did me pursue
And I was taken by that cursed crew
Oh I was taken by that cursed crew

My father cried, "Oh me darling son"
My wife, she cried, "Now I am undone"
My mother tore her gray locks and cried
It's in the cradle I should have died
It's in the cradle I should have died

When I am dead, I want for my grave
A flashy funeral pray let me have
Six highwaymen for to carry me
Oh give them broadswords and sweet liber-ty
Oh give them broadswords and sweet liber-ty

credits

from First Brew, track released August 4, 2015
Traditional song and tune arranged by Mitchell and Vincent.

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Mitchell and Vincent UK

David Mitchell and Graham Vincent are a folk duo from Dorset and Somerset who play a lively mix of traditional tunes which they have arranged for Fiddle and Classical Guitar alongside songs from around the British Isles.
They have performed at a whole variety of festivals, events and concerts around the UK and abroad. ... more

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