Fairport Convention - Naked Highwayman Lyrics

Lyrics Naked Highwayman - Fairport Convention



As I rode out one summer's day for profit and for pleasure
I planned to rob the London coach and take it at my leisure
A brace of pistols duly primed, a saber fit to shave on
I waited underneath the trees that lined the banks of Avon
I didn't hear her dainty step as she appeared before me:
A face to charm a singing bird with words that did implore me
"Can you help me sir?" she said, "I fear the time is near run
For me to cross before the tide swells the banks of Avon."
All you roving fellows listen, while you can
Of the time that I became a naked highwayman
All you roving fellows listen, while you can
Of the time that I became a naked highwayman
So gallantly I did dismount and walked into the water
As she told me that she was a wealthy merchant's daughter
So I thought I'd try my luck and do my best to charm her
Said I was the only son of a country farmer
"Your hands they are a smooth as silk, they never touched a plough sir
And I suppose these pistols help you milking of your cows."
She looked at me with mocking eyes as coal-black as a raven
And then she fell into my arms beside the banks of Avon
Her honeyed lips, I was beguiled, a lamb led to the slaughter
Eventually I fell asleep in the arms of the merchant's daughter
When I awoke I was alone, my clothes and pistols taken
With just the leaves to hide my shame beside the banks of Avon
In vain I tried to catch a glimpse of the city spires
Running like a rabbit through the bushes and the briars
Then I heard the London coach and I was all a-shiver
A lady's voice was calling out: "Stand-to and deliver!"
"Your money or your life I'll have, it's all the same to me. It's
Hanged for a sheep or murder in the first degree."
She stood there in my overcoat, brandishing my pistols
And reliever the London coach of the gold of Bristol
And it's up she's mounted on my horse and rode into the distance
And I went naked to the coach begging for assistance
No more I'll play the highwaymen, nor more I'll put the mask on
I'll leave it to the bright-eyed girl who roams the banks of Avon
As I rode out one summer's day for profit and for pleasure
I planned to rob the London coach and take it at my leisure
A brace of pistols duly primed, a saber fit to shave on
I waited underneath the trees that lined the banks of Avon




Fairport Convention - Fairport Unconventional

1 Adieu Adieu
2 Dirty Linen
3 Meet on the Ledge (Overture)
4 Wings (edit)
5 Lay Down Your Weary Tune
6 A Shattering Live Experience
7 Nottamun Town (alternate version)
8 Come All Ye (Private Rehearsal Tape)
9 Time Is Near
10 Polly on the Shore (Promo Video)
11 Naked Highwayman
12 The Crowd (edit)
13 One Sure Thing (excerpt)
14 Sir B. McKenzie
15 Dear Landlord (outtake)
16 I Don't Believe You (unreleased)
17 Farewell to a Poor Man's Son (unreleased)
18 Sad Song (unreleased)
19 Autopsy (outtake)
20 Maverick Child (outtake)
21 Fiddlestix
22 It's Now or Never
23 The Lady Is a Tramp (unreleased)
24 General Taylor
25 The Accountancy Shanty (unreleased)
26 Sir Patrick Spens (Liege and Lief rehearsal Tape)
27 Here's to Tom Paine
28 Battle of the Somme
29 The Summer Before the War
30 Get Together (Unreleased)
31 Walk Awhile (Bumpers version)
32 Hexhamshire Lass
33 Crazy Man Michael (Liege and Lief Rehearsals)
34 Farewell Farewell (rehearsal Tape)
35 Who Knows Where the Time Goes (Soft acoustic version)
36 Matty Groves (Multi-version)




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