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A story I will tell to you concerning butchers three,
Gibson, Wilson and Johnson, mark well what I do say;
Now as they had five hundred pound, upon a market day,
As they had five hundred pound to spend upon their way.
With a hey, ding, ding, and a ho, ding, ding,
A high, ding, ding, high day,
May Heaven keep good people from such bad company.
And as they rode along the road as fast as they could ride,
Spur on your horse, cries Johnson, for I hear a woman cry;
And as they rode into the wood, the scene they spied around,
There they found this woman, stark naked on the ground.
"0 woman, woman," Johnson cries, "And woman, tell to me."
"And woman, woman," Johnson cries, "Have you got any company?"
"Oh, no, oh no," this woman cried, "However can it be
When there's been by ten swaggering blades who've robbed and beaten me."
Now Johnson being a valiant man, a man of valiant mind,
He's wrapped her up in his great coat, and he's pulled her on behind,
And as they rode into the wood, the woman he did not mind,
She put her fingers to her lips and gave a shivering cry.
Then out and stepped ten swaggering blades with rapiers keen in hand,
They stepped up to Johnson, and boldly bid him stand.
"Oh, I'll not stand," says Wilson, "I'm sure that I would die."
"No more will I," says Gibson, "For I will surely fly!"
"Come on! come on!" cries bold Johnson, "You are but ten to me,
And woman, stand you there behind, we'll gain the victory."
The very first pistol Johnson fires is loaded with powder and ball,
And out of these ten swaggering blades full five of them did fall.
"Come on! come on!" cries bold Johnson, "You are but five to me,
And woman, stand you there behind, we'll gain the victory."
And the very next pistol Johnson fires is loaded with powder and ball,
And out of these five swaggering blades another three did fall.
"Come on! come on!" cries bold Johnson, "You are but two to me,
And woman, stand you there behind, we'll gain the victory."
But as he fought these rogues in front, the woman he did not mind,
She drew his knife all from his belt and stabbed him from behind.
Now, the day it being a market day, there's people passing by,
They saw the awful murder, and raised a hue and cry.
So now she is condemned to die in iron chains so strong,
For killing the finest young butcher that ever the sun shone on.
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