Ballads of Robin Hood

Robin's Song
 
The greenwood tree is where I'll be free as the skies above.
No deceit, no devilry, just red deer and a dove.
When evil men tell lies then you'll find justice hard to find.
Tyrants thrive in lawful guise - guess whose pockets are fully lined!
So all those now on the run can join me in the sun; 
We'll give the Sheriff the run around in our own green Sherwood. 
 
If hunting's made you an outlaw its best that you join me.
Friends are true and you'll be free as birdies in the tree.
Try trusting in the proud Sheriff and before you've begun,
You will find yourself undone - guess who controls Castle dungeon!  
So all those now on the run can join me in the sun; 
We'll give the Sheriff the run around in our own green Sherwood. 
 
The Ballad of Alan A Dale
 
'I've no money,' the young man said. 
'But just five shillings and a ring
That I have kept for seven years, 
Saved up for my wedding. 
I should be wed to a fair maid 
But alas she has been taken, 
She's chosen as some knight's delight 
Now my heart is broken.' 
 
'What is your name?' asked Robin Hood. 
'Tell me without any fail.' 
'By my good faith,' said the young man. 
'I'm known as Alan a Dale.' 
So hasted Robin over the plain 
With no stint nor any dawdling, 
Till he'd arrived inside this church 
Where there's to be this wedding.
'Why are you here?' the bishop asked, 
'I prithee that you tell to me.' 
So Robin said 'I'm a harper, 
The best in this county.'
Into the church came a rich knight 
Who looked grave and far too old. 
Following him this fine young lass 
Shining like glistening gold. 
 
So Robin said: 'It's no fit match,' 
And on his horn he blew blasts three. 
Where Robin's bowmen, with Alan. 
Came in from o'er the lea. 
Robin said: 'Lass, here's your true love, 
Young Alan a Dale, I hear say, 
You two shall be wed at this time,
Fore we go on our way.' 
 
'Who is to give this maid away?' 
Robin he said: 'That do I. 
And whoever takes her from Alan, 
Full dearly he will buy.' 
So ended this merry wedding, 
All said the bride looked like a queen 
So they returned to the greenwood 
Among the leaves so green-o.
 

 

Ballad of Robin Hood & the Butcher
Come around you folks and listen for a while,
For this tale of Robin Hood may bring a smile.
On a forest trail the good archer did spy,
A jolly butcher who came passing by.    
'What price do you sell and where do you dwell?' asked Robin.
The butcher said: 'Four marks I'll surely get at Nottingham.'
To the butcher Robin paid his full fee
And on to Nottingham a butcher to be.  
First to the Sheriff to ply his butcher's trade,
Then he sold his meat for just one penny paid.
Sold his meat so fast other butchers could not thrive;
Against his penny some others charged five.    
'Your pocket is full, some prodigal,' said the butchers.
'We're all going to the Sheriff's house won't you dine with us.'
The Sheriff's wife tended their wine and dine,
And Robin said: 'I will pay, for the bill is mine!'  
With this rich fellow the Sheriff was impressed.
The Sheriff asked: 'Have you horned beasts of the best?'
'Yes I have and you'll find they're the best you will see;
Bring out your gold I'll take you where they be.'    
In green Sherwood they found herds of red deer roamed there-in.
'Here are my fine beasts, so thanks for your good gold!' said Robin.
The Sheriff said: 'I've been had, I'm fast away!'
Robin said: 'Tell your wife its been a nice day!'  

 

Ballad of Robin Hood & the Pedlar
 
Chanced by a pedlar bold,
A pedlar bold he chanced to be;
Rolled his pack on his back,
As he tripped over the lea.
Chanced by two toublesome blades;
Troublesome blades they chanced to be;
One was bold Robin Hood,
The other Little John so free.     
'Now pedlar,' said Little John.
'What do you carry?'
'I've got suits of grey-green silks,
Silken bow strings three.'
'Your suits of grey-green silks,
And silken bow strings three,
By my faith!' cried Little John.
'Half belongs to me!'
'No!' said the pedlar bold.
'Oh! my no! that can never be;
No man from Nottingham,
Can take my pack from me.'
The pedlar pulled off his pack
And he put it below his knee,
Saying: 'If you move me,
My pack and all will gang with thee!'   
Little John then drew his sword;
Pedlar stood by his pack.
The two fought till both did sweat,
Little John cried: 'Hold back!'
Robin Hood standing by,
Laughed and said that he
Knew no man smaller who could
Thrash both pedlar and thee.
'Please try,' said Little John.
'Go you try, master, speedily,
Or by my body sure,
This night you won't know me.'
Robin Hood he drew his sword;
The pedlar still stood by his pack.
They fought till blood did flow
Till Robin Hood cried: 'Pedlar, hold back!'    
'We two are bold Robin Hood
And Little John so free.'
'I'm Gamble Gold of the greenwood;
I've often crossed the sea.
You are my mother's sister's son,
No closer cousins could we be.'
Now all close friends, they set out 
To find a fine hostelry -
Where bottles soon cracked merrily.    
 
Dear Marian
 
Birdies sing more freely;   
Fresher is the morning dew.  
Flowers do smell much more sweetly  
Because I  love you.
It's now goodbye to sad emptiness;
And fare thee well to loneliness 
Because I  so love you.   
 
Who is free-er than the wild bird?  
Sweeter than the May?
Who is fresher than the morning?
Brighter than the day?
It is you, my dear Marian,
My heart I truly give to you,
For I love you true. 
Love Robin
 
The Forest Line
 
Through Sherwood runs the Forest Line,
Carrying coal hewn from the mine.
It will carry you to the Goose Fair;  
Makes you feel just like a millionaire.  
Through Sherwood runs the Forest Line,  
Back in time, feels so fine, feels so fine.
 
You might want if you've half a mind
To turn the clock way back in time. 
When the woods were wild and in the Spring, 
The golden oriole did sweetly sing.
Through Sherwood runs the Forest Line,  
Back in time, feels so fine, feels so fine.
 
When tall oaks hawthorn and Scots pine,  
Grew here before the Forest Line.
Roses and orchids, bluebells mingling,  
Occasional deer, birds a-winging.
Through Sherwood runs the Forest Line,  
Back in time, feels so fine, feels so fine
 
You might hear if you've half a mind,  
Riding along the Forest Line.
An echoing bugle filling the air,  
A whistling arrow fly past your ear.  
Through Sherwood runs the Forest Line,  
Back in time, feels so fine, feels so fine.  
 
You might see if you've half a mind,
Riding a-long the Forest Line.
Robin and Marian stroll hand in hand  
And galloping by, his merry band.
Through Sherwood runs the Forest Line,  
Back in time, feels so fine, feels so fine.

 

The Sheriff's Song
 
The Sheriff has to be above the law, 
Scheming, double dealing, manipulator.
Makes his pile from rich and poor, 
Isn't that what they are here for? 
When prisoners pay a handsome fee,
I'll think about setting them free, 
Sometime, perhaps, maybe. 
 
Sometimes bribes are needed for jurors,
It's an expense but sometimes I need favours. 
For the Sheriff's welfare has to come first, 
And gold must flow into my purse. 
When prisoners pay a hand-some fee,
I'll think about setting them free,
Sometime, perhaps, maybe. 
 
 

 

 

          The Ballad of Little John
When Robin Hood was a young outlaw,
He happened to meet Little John -
A jolly brisk blade right fit for the trade
For he was a lusty young man.
 
Though he was called Little his limbs were large
And his stature was seven foot high;
Wherever he came they quaked at his name,
For soon he would make them all fly.
 
They met by chance on a narrow bridge
And neither of them would give way.
Quoth bold Robin Hood who sturdily stood:
'With my staff I'll show you fine play!'
 
At first Robin gave the stranger a bang
So hard it made his bones ring.
The stranger said: 'This must be repaid
I'll give you as good as you bring.'
 
The stranger cracked Robin on his crown
Soon causing some blood to appear.
Then Robin enraged, more fiercely engaged
And followed his blows more severe.
 
So thick and fast did he lay it on him
With great passion, fury and ire;
That with every stroke, Robin made him smoke,
As if he had been all on fire.
 
The stranger began to lose his cool
And gave the outlaw damning looks;
And with them a blow that laid him full low
And tumbled him into the brook.
 
'I prithee good fellow where art thou now?'
The stranger, in laughter, he cried.
Quoth bold Robin Hood: 'Good faith in the flood,
I'm floating along with the tide!'
 
He presently waded to the bank
And pulled himself out by a thorn;
Which done at the last he blew a loud blast
Straightway on his fine bugle horn.
 
The valleys  resounded with its echoes
At which his stout bowmen appeared
Dressed in Lincoln green, a sight to be seen,
So up to their master they steered.
 
The outlaw said: 'Don't fret my stout friend,
These bowman all on me do wait.
There's three score and nine if thou wilt be mine,
Thou shalt have my livery straight.'
 
'I'll give you good hand,' the stranger said,
'For I'll serve you with all my heart;
My name is John Little, a man of good mettle,
Ne'er doubt me for I'll play my part.'

 

 
Ballad of Robin Hood & the Beggar
 
Bold Robin Hood ranged all around, 
The forest all around ranged he. 
There he did see a fine lady,
Come weeping along the highway. 
 
'O why do you weep my  lady? 
I pray thee please tell me why.' 
'It so happens that of my three sons,
All are condemned to die'.
 
'What have they done?' asked bold Robin, 
I pray thee come tell unto me'. 
'I fear they've killed the King's own deer, 
And soon my sons no more will be.' 
 
Bold Robin sped through  the forest, 
Till up ahead he did spy
This traveller, an old beggar; 
This shambling figure drew nigh.
 
'Pray change your clothing old beggar, 
If your clothing you'll change with me, 
If willing, here's fifteen shillings, 
All for you to keep as  your fee.'
 
Robin went on to Nottingham, 
To Castle prison went he, 
The Sheriff he saw at the door, 
Guarding the lady's sons all three.
 
Robin took his bugle horn, 
Blowing three blasts both loud and shrill, 
And eight score and ten of Robin's men,
Came tripping down the green hill.
 
'Who's men are these?' asked the Sheriff. 
'I pray thee come tell to me?' 
'They are all mine, none of them thine, 
Come for the lady's sons all three.'
 
'Take them along,' says the Sheriff, 
'Take all three along with thee. 
No other man in Nottingham 
Could take these three away from me.' 
 
It was Robin who led this band, 
As hard as they all could go, 
Eight score and ten of his bold men 
And the lady's sons all in a row.

 

Where's Robin Hood?
 
Shimmering leaves, a balmy breeze,
And boughs in bud in green Sherwood.
Among the trees, those smiling thieves
Cannot be seen in Lincoln green.
Dappled deer, show no fear;
Squirrels dash, through oak and ash;
The lily-leaf and cowslip sweet
So cheerily bud, then bloom so good.
Skylarks and doves, fly above
In green Sherwood - where's Robin Hood?    
Blossom on trees and humming bees;
Life is so good in green Sherwood.
Bluebells ringing, songbirds singing,
Seems like a dream with grass so green.
Dappled deer show no fear;
Squirrels dash through oak and ash.
The lily-leaf and cowslip sweet
So cheerily bud then bloom so good.
Skylarks and doves fly above
In green Sherwood - where's Robin Hood? 
 
 
Dear Robin
 Just a few words to show you what you mean to me, 
You are here in my heart, while we are far apart. 
Dear Robin, always in my thoughts, forever you'll be.
I find you in my dreams - you're part of me it seems. 
 
While you're away, don't say, Marian's forgotten me. 
I'll be singing your song, shortening days that seem so long. 
 
Dear Robin, a few more words to show you what you mean to me.
Remembering your smile, you know, will keep my heart aglow. 
Dear Robin, though you're not near, I'll still hold you dear.
Thoughts of your fond caress, I will always possess. 
 
While you're away don't say, Marian has forgotten me. 
I'll be singing your song, shortening days that seem so long. 
Love Marian.
 
Ballad of Robin & the Curtal Friar
This friar lived in Fountains Dale, 
Who they all said: could draw a longbow. 
Bold Rob-in Hood, curious to know, 
Took up his sword and his longbow 
And headed for this Fountains Dale. 
This curtal friar he came upon by the river. 
Robin said to him: 'Humble fellow, 
A good man be and carry me cross this water 
if only for sweet charity.' 
On the far bank, drawing his sword,
The friar said: 'Now carry me back!' 
Robin bore him to the far side, drawing his sword, 
Robin then said: 'Curt-al friar, carry me back!' 
This time the friar dropped him right in, 
Saying to him: 'Now choose sink or swim!' 
They drew their swords, with might and main, 
Began to fight from ten o-clock that summer's day till afternoon.
 Rob-in went down, later than soon, 
On to his knees to beg for a boon. 
'Give me your leave to blow my horn 
For I'm forlorn and feel so worn.'
Through the forest he blew blasts three. 
Two score yeomen in Lincoln green 
With bent longbows came over the lea 
The friar said: 'What do you want to take from me?' 
Rob-in Hood said: A noble's your fee if you join me. 
And if you go, along with me to Nottingham every holy day, 
One more noble add to your fee. 
The friar agreed, no knight or earl had ever made him yield before.