Brennan on the Moor
(Irish Folksong)
Tis of a famous highwayman
A story I will tell;
His name was Willie Brennan,
And in Ireland he did dwell;
And on the Kilworth mountains
He commenced his wild career,
Where many a wealthy gentleman
Before him shook with fear.
Chorus:
Brennan on the Moor,
Brennan on the Moor.
A brave undaunted robber
Was bold Brennan on the Moor.
A brace of loaded pistols
He carried night and day;
He never robbed a poor man
Upon the king's highway;
But what he'd taken from the rich,
Like Turpin and Black Bess,
He always did divide it
With the widow in distress.
Chorus
One night he robbed a packman
By name of Pedlar Bawn;
They travelled on together
Till the day began to dawn;
The pedlar seeing his money gone,
Likewise his watch and chain,
He at once encountered Brennan
And he robbed him back again.
Chorus
One day upon the highway,
As Willie he went down,
He met the Mayor of Cashel
A mile outside the town:
The Mayor he knew his features;
"I think, young man," said he,
"Your name is Willie Brennan;
You must come along with me."
Chorus
Now Brennan's wife had gone to town,
Provisions for to buy,
And when she saw her Willie,
She began to weep and cry;
He says, "Give me that tenpenny";
As soon as Willie spoke,
She handed him a blunderbuss
From underneath her cloak.
Chorus
Then with his loaded blunderbuss,
The truth I will enfold,
He made the Mayor to tremble,
And robbed him of his gold;
One hundred pounds was offered
For his apprehension there,
So he with horse and saddle
To the mountains did repair
Chorus
Then Brennan being an outlaw
Upon the mountains high,
Whith cavalry and infantry
To take him they did try;
He laughed at them with scorn,
Until at length, 'tis said,
By a false-hearted young man
He basely was betrayed.
Chorus