From Chris Turner:
ADIEU, ADIEU
(The Flash Lad)
Adieu, a
dieu, ha
rd was my fate
I was brought up in a tender state
Bad company did me entice
I left off work and took bad advice
CHORUS:
Which makes me now to lament and say,
Pity the fate of young felons all,
Well-a-day, w
ell-a-day.
I robbed Lord Goldwyn I do declare
And Lady Harrington on Grosvener Square
I closed their shutters and said goodnight
And went away, t
o my heart's delight,
CHORUS
Before Judge Jeffries I was took
Before Judge Jeffries I was tried
Then Harry Jew said, "
This will not do,
My iron chest you have broken through,"
CHORUS
And when I'm dead and in my grave
No costly tombstone will I crave
Six bonnie lads to carry my pall
Give them broadswords, and bright ribbons all
CHORUS
from: http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=73935
Subject: Lyr Add: ADIEU, ADIEU / FLASH LAD (from Watersons)
From: Barbara
Date: 09 Jan 99 - 12:47 AM
ADIEU, ADIEU
(The Flash Lad)
Adieu, a
dieu, ha
rd was my fate
I was brought up in a tender state
Bad company did me entice
I left off work and took bad advice
CHO:
Which makes me now to lament and say,
Pity the fate of young felons all,
Well-a-day, w
ell-a-day.
I robbed Lord Goldwyn I do declare
And Lady Masefield on Grosvener Square
I shut their shutters and bid them goodnight
And away I wnt to me heart's delight,
CHORUS
Before Judge Alden I was took
Before Judge Alden I was tried
Then Harry Jones said, "
This will not do,
My iron chest you have broken through,"
CHORUS
And when I'm dead and going to me grave
No costly tombstones will I crave
Six bonnie lasses to carry me pall
Give them broadswords, gloves and ribbons all,
CHORUS
Date: 05 Oct 04 - 08:52 AM
From Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads, Harding B 11(1226):
THE FLASH LAD
THE FLASH LAD
Adieu, a
dieu, i
t was my fate,
I was brought up in a tender state,
Until bad counsel did me entice,
To leave off work and follow vice.
CHORUS: Which makes me now to lament and say:
Pity the fall of young fellows all.
Well-a-day! Well-a-day!
At cups and cards I took great delight,
Singing in alehouses day and night.
A pretty girl was my chiefest joy.
I took delight as a roving boy.
At seventeen, I
took a wife.
I loved her dearly as my life;
And to maintain her fine and gay,
I went to rob on the King's highway.
My father and my mother too
Told me such things would never do;
But I never minded what they did say,
But took my horse and rode away.
There's you and I and Jack Douglas both.
We were all sworn by a solemn oath
To go and rob on the King's highway.
The first we met was to be our prey.
When mounted on a milk-white steed,
I thought myself a flash lad indeed.
With my cock'd pistol and broad sword,
"Stand and deliver" was the word.
The first we met was a gentleman.
We rode up to him and bade him stand;
But in spite of all he could say or do,
We robbed him first and killed him too.
Before Judge Hale then I was brought.
Before Judge Hale then I was brought.
Says Henry Jones, "That will not do.
My iron chest you have broken through."
I never rob for any clothes.
I hate such trifling things as those.
I rob for gold and silver bright
For to maintain my heart's delight.
It's when you hear my death bell toll,
Pray God for mercy on my sinful soul;
And when they carry me to the grave,
A decent funeral let me have.
Let six young women bear up my pall.
Give them white gowns and ribbons all,
That they may say and speak the truth:
"There goes a wild and abandoned youth."
Let six highwaymen follow my pall.
Give them cocked pistols powder and ball
That they may fire over my grave,
And say, "
Take warning, young fellows all."
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