The Three Butchers

The Three Butchers - Pete Seeger

Written by：Traditional

Johnstone he was riding along

As fast as he could ride

When he thought he heard a woman

He heard a woman cry

Johnstone getting off his horse

Searching the woods all round

When he came upon a woman

With her hair bent to the ground

Oh woman dearest woman

Who brought you here for this far

Who that brought you here this morning

With her hair bent to the ground

It was three bold and struggling men

With swords gleaming on

Who that brought me here this morning

With me hair pinned to the ground

Johnstone being a man of his own

Being a man and bold

He taken off his soldiers cloak

To cover her from the cold

Johnstone getting on his horse

The woman gets on behind

They then rode down that lonesome highway

Their fortune for to find

They were riding along

Faster they could ride

When she blown her fingers to her lips

And gave three shivering cries

Out sprang three bold and strugling men

With swords gleaming on

Who let them on the Johnstone

And commanded him to stand

I will stop stand said Johnstone

I'll stop then said he

For I never was in all of my life

Afraid of any three

Johnstone killing two of them

Not watching the woman behind

While he was after the other one

She stabbed him from behind

They were free and a market day

People all passing by

Could that saw then this awful murder

Oh poor Johnstone die