And so from roundheads and cavaliers,
Let’s fast forward 100 years
When England had much better roads,
Which carried many a heavy load.
But many bandits upon them strode
With no respect for the Highway Code,
An to robbery they did resort,
So let’s now meet George Davenport.
A highwayman of some renown
Who hailed from nearby Wigston town.
Who, among his many other crimes
Took the King’s Shilling forty times
Then disappeared to leave no trace,
Except the egg on the sergeant’s face,
He knocked on many a stagecoach door,
To rob the rich and feed the poor,
But like all felons met his end
Upon the gallows, yes my friend,
Not a quick or simple fate,
For strangulation usually takes
Around about a half an hour
Well if you’re lucky not much more,
You writhe and wriggle, jerk and cough,
Your tongue swells until you bite it off,
You spurt with blood, your eyes pop out,
It’s really quite a good day out,
For folks they’ll come from miles around
To watch George Davenport bow out,
But that’s enough, let’s hear no more,
Of creaking necks and blood and gore,
Come minstrels now with one accord,
Let’s sing of Georgie Davenport.
lyrics
Too Much Drinking (the story of George Davenport)
The More You drink the worse you think,
Perchance your health and purse will fail.
Beware of swallowing too much ale...
1. When I was a young man, I kept bad company,
In many an alehouse spent my days and spent my money free,
And of a night I took delight in that flash company,
I cared not where the money went with a damsel on my knee.
The More You drink the worse you think,
Perchance your health and purse will fail.
Beware of swallowing too much ale..
2. George Davenport it was my name, and warnings I had many,
Good counsel though I would not heed, though down to my last penny,
My pockets they were empty, and so one fateful day,
I took me to a robbing all on the King’s highway.
The More You drink the worse you think,
Perchance your health and purse will fail.
Beware of swallowing too much ale..
3.The King’s shilling I did take, some forty times or more,
But used it to get the sergeant drunk and bolted through the door,
I played at catch me if you can, over rooves so high,
The down the lanes so fast I ran, they thought that I could fly..
The More You drink the worse you think,
Perchance your health and purse will fail.
Beware of swallowing too much ale..
4.Many a farmer I did rob, though loudly they did curse,
A brace of pistols in my hand, relieved them of their purse,
I’d play the fiddle, I’d dance a jig, or sing a merry song,
Then boldly I’d take to the road when my money was all gone..
The More You drink the worse you think,
Perchance your health and purse will fail.
Beware of swallowing too much ale..
5.But now alas, pity my fate, as in this jail I lie,
Repenting of my wicked deeds, a sentenced for to die,
Soon standing on the gallows high, my story will be told,
May God forgive my wicked deeds, have mercy on my soul..
The More You drink the worse you think,
Perchance your health and purse will fail.
Beware of swallowing too much ale..
I write both serious and comedy songs. 6 solo CDs to date and collaborations with Steve Cartwright -"Legends of
Leicester/Leicestershire". "All at Sea" shantyish album. Folk based for the most part - when people ask where the ideas come from I can say with honesty -"not drugs!!".. Currently working on a new album "Aspects of Lurve" hopefully out later in 2024....more
