Long John Old John And Jackie North Lyrics & Chords By Martin Carthy

Now Long John's from the mountain gone he's to London town
And the king's daughter in fair London she fell in love with him
Now Long John was a giant born he was fourteen feet in height
And the king's daughter she wept for him as she laid alone at night

And when the king he heard of this an angry man was he
Says this mighty man shall stretch the rope that hangs on the gallows tree
So he sent men and cunning men and around him they did creep
And they fed him drops of laudanum and they laid him fast asleep

So that when he's awaked out of his sleep a sorry man was he
With his jaws and hands in iron bands and his feet in fetters three
So he's bribed him a servant Long John he's given him meat and fee
To run to his uncle Old John to come and rescue he

And the first few miles the little boy walked and the next few miles he ran
And he run till he come to the broad water where he lay down and swam
And when he come to the mountain high he cried out aloud
For there he spied him Jackie North with Old John by his side

And there as these two giants stood a grisly sight to see
For they were tall as the eagles call and broad as the oaken tree
Oh rise rise Old John Jackie North come thee
For Long John's in prison strong and hanged he must be

So they ran over hill and they ran over dale and they ran over mountain high
Till they come down to London town at the dawning of the day
They cried upon up your city gates open at my call
Then they up with their feet and they kicked a hole straight in through London Wall

And they trampled down by Drury lane the crowd before them ran
Till there they spied him Long John stood under the gallows pin
They said is it for murder is it for rape is it for robbery
For if it's any heinous crime we'll stand and watch you die

He says not for murder not for rape not for robbery
But it's all for the love of a gay lady they are here to see me die
So they took him from the gallows pin before the king went they
Their armour bright cast such a light it fair dazzled his eye

Good day to you cries Jackie North good day to you cries he
For we have come for your daughter's wedding all down from the mountains high
When the king he seen them come an angry man was he
Cries one of you is tall enough what shall I do with three

Oh cursed be that serving boy the tidings bore away
For I do vow and I do swear high hanged he shall be
Oh if you hang this little boy the tidings brought to me
We three shall come to his burial and paid you'll surely be

A priest a priest Long John he cries to join my love and me
A priest a priest Long John he cries for married we will be
Oh take my daughter Long John my curse upon you fall
And take my serving boy also lest all my city fall

They've taken the lady by the hand set her prison free
And the drums did beat and the fifes did play they spent the night with glee
And then Long John and Old John Jackie North all three
A freed bride and a serving boy went back to the mountains high