[Verse 1]

Oh, come and I'll sing you a song of intent

Concerning a silly old man

Who went off to pay to the landlord his rent

And into some trouble he ran

[Verse 2]

For as he was riding along the green way

A gentleman thief passed him by

"I'm company, sir, do you need me to stay?"

"Oh no," was the old man’s reply

[Verse 3]

"For as you can see I'm a silly old man

I farm but a parcel of ground

To the landlord I go," said the silly old man

"To pay up my rent forty pounds"

[Verse 4]

"But what if you meet with a highway man here?

Their numbers are many, I will bid"

"Oh, I will not worry and I will not fear

For inside my saddle it's hid"

[Verse 5]

And the two of them rode then as fast as they can

Till the gentleman thief up he sped

Saying, "Stand and delivеr, you silly old man

You should have stayed home in your bеd"

[Verse 6]

But the old man was crafty and cunning and sly

And long on this earth he had been

His saddle he tossed o'er the hedge with a cry

Saying, "Fetch it yourself, you young fiend"

[Verse 7]

And the thief being thirsty for silver and gold

Was eager to get to the bags

And he drew out his rusty old sword then so bold

Chopped up the saddle to rags

[Verse 8]

And the old man he jumped off his tired old horse

And mounted the thief's horse astride

And he gave her a kick to a gallop of course

And away to the town he did ride

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 9]

When he came to the landlord's he came with good cheer

But never the story he told

And the thief's bag he opened to buy them some beer

It was brimming with silver and gold

[Verse 10]

And the rent it was settled, the debt was made good

The silly old man journeyed back

And there in the lane his old mare she stood

With nought but the hair on her back

[Verse 11]

Oh, he loosened the mare then from where she was tied

And gave her a slap with his whip

Saying, "Come along home now and stay by my side"

And off down the lane they did trip

[Verse 12]

And when he was home there was joy and delight

His daughter she dressed like a queen

And his old wife she danced an old jig through the night

So much money she never had seen