Lyrics John Blunt - Martin Carthy

There was an old couple lived under the hill
Blunt it was their name o
They had good beer and ale good to sell
And it bore a wonderful fame o
John Blunt and his wife they drank of the drink
Till they could drink no more o
They both got tired and they went up to bed
But forgot to bar the door o
So they a bargain, bargain made
Made it strong and sure o:
The first of them should speak the first word
Should get up and bar the door o
So there came travellers, travellers three
Travelling in the night o
No house, no home, no fire had they
Nor yet no candlelight o
They went to his cellar, they drank up his drink
Till they could drink no more o
But never a word did the old couple speak
For fear who should bar the door o
They went to his larder, they ate up his food
Till they could eat no more o
But never a word did the old couple speak
For fear who should bar the door o
They went upstairs, they went to his room
They broke down the door o
But never a word did the old couple speak
For fear who should bar the door o
They hauled his old wife out of the bed
Then laid her out on the floor o
Then up got John Blunt out of his bed
For he could stand no more o
"You′ve eaten my food and drunk all my drink
Laid me wife on the floor o."
"You spoke the first word John Blunt, she said
So go down and bar the door o."