Show Of Hands – Widdecome Fair lyrics

It was early dawn when we met out on the hillside
On our way to Widdecombe fair
To drink ourselves dry make a big noise there
Six Devon lads with a young boy

Whose mother had said promise me now
you'll watch for him
He's never slept out of home before
And you know too well there'll trouble in store
I gave her my word and we crossed the moor

It was growing dark we stopped at the inn when we saw her
Fair faced in the candle light
Such a fine sight with her long black hair
Young Billy stared and she stared right back
But the landlord said she's spoken for

He said leave me here alone
I'll meet you tomorrow
On your way back home at the crossways
At noon on the Whiddon Down road
You go and I'll stay
You boys go and I'll stay

I said take my watch and my chain
We all hit the road again
Four miles to the fairground we had a fine time there
Next day came, we waited in the rain at the crossroads
But the boy never came I said you go ahead
I returned to the Inn
But the landlord said that the last thing seen
Was a boy and a girl out on the moor
That was all he knew and he showed me the door
I called and I cried God knows I tried
Until the long night came
His mother flew at me she called me names
Scratched my face said I was to blame and asked would she ever see her sweet sweet son again

Well a year went by without one sign
I'm back at the Inn to see what I'd find
The wind whistled cold on the moor that night
I thought I saw a couple in the pale moonlight
The landlord said "It's you again"
From his pocket hung down my watch and chain
Tom I sat down on a stone and I cried
Knowing full well that the young lad died
Tom Tom, lend me your grey mare
I want to go back to Widdecombe fair
With Bill, Jan, Peter and Dan, Harry and Pete
On the moors we'll meet
All down along out along lee
All down along out along lee