The Bold Poachers

Traditional
(Steeleye Span)

Concerning of three young men 
One night in January 
According laws contrary 
A-poaching went straightway.

They were inclined to ramble 
Amongst the trees and brambles 
A-firing at the pheasants 
Which brought the keepers nigh.

The keepers dared not enter 
Nor cared the woods to venture 
But outside near the centre 
In them old bush they stood.

The poachers they were tired 
And to leave they were desired 
And at last young Parkins fired 
And spilled one keeper's blood.

Fast homeward they were making 
Nine pheasants they were taking 
When another keeper faced them 
They fired at him also.

He on the ground lay crying 
Just like some person dying 
With no assistance nigh him 
May God forgive their crime.

Then they were taken with speed 
All for that inhuman deed 
It caused their hearts to bleed 
For their young tender years.

There seen before was never 
Three brothers tried together 
Three brothers condemned for poaching 
Found guilty as they stood.

Exiled in transportation 
Two brothers they were taken 
And the other hung as a token 
May God forgive their crime.


From the Folk Song Journals

Transportation, usually to Australia or the Americas, was, to
rustic people who rarely travelled further than the local market
town, tantamount to a sentence of death.  In Norfolk, where this
song was collected, there was a tradition whereby a bottle of the
transported man's urine was hung up in his house.  If it clouded
it meant he was ill and if it wasted he was believed to have died
and his family went into mourning.  It may be deduced, per se,
that a healthy bladder and a well corked bottle have lengthened
many a man's life.

On "Parcel of Rogues" album by Steeleye Span, 1973