As Dickie Rode out All Across Yon Moor

Turpin Hero

As Dickie rode out all across yon moor,

He spied a lawyer riding out before

He rode up to him and he thus did say,

Have you seen Dickie Turpin ride this way?

No, I've not seen him for many a day,

No more do I want to see him ride this way,

For if I did, I’d have no doubt,

He would turn my pockets inside out.

Oh aye, lad, Dickie says, Oh, I’ve been cute,

I've hid my money in my old top boot,

Then says the lawyer, He shan't have mine,

For I hid it in my greatcoat cape behind.

So they rode along together till they came to a hill,

Where he bid the old lawyer to stand quite still,

He says, Your greatcoat cape it must come off,

For my Black Bess wants a new saddle-cloth.

So now I've robbed you of all your store,

You may go and work for more,

And the very next town that you ride in,

You can tell 'em you was robbed by Dick Turpin.

But wasn't Dickie caught so hard and fast,

For killing of an old gamecock at last,

He says, Here's fifty pound, before I die,

To give Jack Ketch for a lad like I.

Traditional Ballad.

The chorus, ‘To my heigh-ho, Turpin hero, I am the valiant Turpin-O!’ has been omitted – but feel free to re-insert it!

Cute: smart, cunning

Jack Ketch: general name for an executioner; criminals would give the hangman money to encourage them to do a quick, efficient job.

Jack and the Robber

There was an old farmer I’m going to tell you plain,

He had a servant boy and Jack was his name;

For he said to him, “Jack, take the cows to the fair,

For she’s in good order for all I can spare.”

Jack drove the cow straight out of the barn,

And in to the fair the cow simply run;

He wasn’t there long before he met three men,

And there he sold the cow for thirteen pound ten.

Jack went into the public for to get a drink,

And there to the landlady in ready money jinked;

“Where shall I put this money,” to the servant he did say,

“For I’m feared on the road it is robbed I shall be.”

“In the lining of your coat, you may sew it so,” says she,

“I am feared on the road it is robbed you will be.”

For the robber in the room he sat drinking up his wine,

And he swore to himself all this money shall be mine.

Now Jack left the public and started for home,

The robber followed after him straight out of the room;

“I’d be glad of your company young man he did say,

And he jumped to the saddle and he rode straight away.”

For they jogged along together till they came to the bine of a lane,

“And now,” said the robber, “I’m going to tell you plain;

You come deliver up your money without any more delay,

Or this very same moment your life I’ll take away.”

Jack throwed the money out of the lining of his coat,

And all about the green grass he sowed it all about;

While the robber was picking up the money that was sown amongst the grass,

Jack jumped in the saddle and he rode away his horse.

For its one of the servants saw Jack coming home,

And in to the master he simply did run;

“Oh master, oh master oh here comes Jack and I think he’s had a swop,

And how did the old cow turn into a horse?”

“Oh master, oh master I mean to tell you plain,

I met a bold robber on the highway that I came;

While he were picking up the money that was sown amongst the grass,

For to bring you home commission sir I brought you home his horse.”

When the saddlebags was opened it’s there they behold,

Five hundred bright guineas and some silver and some gold;

A good pair of pistols the old farmer dewelled,

He said, “Well done Jack, for you well sold the cow.”

Traditional Ballad

bine of: entrance to

dewelled: meaning unclear; what do you think it means?

There is a repeated line (‘With me fol the diddle I do, fol the diddle ay’) which I have omitted. It appears after the first, third, fourth and last verses in the version I’ve used and partly accounts for the unconventional rhyme scheme.