Two Butchers
It's of two noble butchers as I have heard men say,
Started out from London all on a market day.
And as they were a-riding as fast as they could ride,
"Oh, stop your horse," says Johnson, "for I hear some woman cry."
"I will not stop," says Wilson, "I will not stop," says he.
"I will not stop," says Wilson, "for robbed we shall be."
Johnson, he got off his horse, searched the woods all round,
And there he spied a woman with her hair pinned to the ground.
"How came you here, dear woman? How came you here fast bound?
"How came you here this morning with your hair pinned to the ground?"
"They robbed me, they stripped me, they left me here fast bound,
They left me here this morning with my hair pinned to the ground."
[Chorus:]
May God keep all good people,
May God keep all good people,
May God keep all good people from such bad company.
Then Johnson, he being a valiant man and a man of courage bold,
He took his coat from off his back to keep her from the cold.
And as they were a-riding as fast as they could ride,
She put a whistle to her mouth and she gave three shivering cries.
Up jumped three bold and swaggering men with swords all in their hands,
Who then commanded Johnson, commanded him to stand.
"I'll stop, I'll stand," says Johnson, "as long as I can stand,
For never was I, in all my life, afraid of any man."
[Chorus]
Oh, two of them he quickly slew and the third he did not mind
Till the false young woman took a knife and stabbed him from behind.
Poor Johnson he spun round about and he fell down to the ground.
And he cursed that wretched woman who gave him his death wound.
Now the day it being a market day, there were people travelling by
Who saw the awful murder, who saw poor Johnson die.
Now Johnson he was a valiant man, and a valiant man was he,
May God keep all good people from such bad company.
[Chorus]
Dos Carniceros
Es de dos nobles carniceros como he escuchado decir a los hombres,
Partieron de Londres en un día de mercado.
Y mientras cabalgaban tan rápido como podían,
'Oh, detén tu caballo,' dice Johnson, 'porque escucho a una mujer llorar.'
'No me detendré,' dice Wilson, 'no me detendré,' dice él.
'No me detendré,' dice Wilson, 'porque seremos robados.'
Johnson, bajó de su caballo, buscó en los bosques por todos lados,
Y allí vio a una mujer con su cabello atado al suelo.
'¿Cómo llegaste aquí, querida mujer? ¿Cómo llegaste aquí atada?
'¿Cómo llegaste aquí esta mañana con tu cabello atado al suelo?'
'Me robaron, me despojaron, me dejaron atada aquí,
Me dejaron aquí esta mañana con mi cabello atado al suelo.'
[Estribillo:]
Que Dios proteja a toda la buena gente,
Que Dios proteja a toda la buena gente,
Que Dios proteja a toda la buena gente de tan mala compañía.
Entonces Johnson, siendo un hombre valiente y de coraje audaz,
Se quitó su abrigo de la espalda para protegerla del frío.
Y mientras cabalgaban tan rápido como podían,
Ella puso un silbato en su boca y dio tres gritos escalofriantes.
Saltaron tres hombres audaces y fanfarrones con espadas en sus manos,
Quienes entonces ordenaron a Johnson, le ordenaron que se detuviera.
'Me detendré, me quedaré parado,' dice Johnson, 'todo lo que pueda estar de pie,
Porque nunca en toda mi vida tuve miedo de ningún hombre.'
[Estribillo]
Oh, él mató rápidamente a dos de ellos y al tercero no le importó
Hasta que la falsa joven tomó un cuchillo y lo apuñaló por la espalda.
Pobre Johnson dio vueltas y cayó al suelo.
Y maldijo a esa desdichada mujer que le dio su herida mortal.
Ahora, al ser un día de mercado, había gente viajando por allí
Que vio el terrible asesinato, que vio a pobre Johnson morir.
Ahora Johnson era un hombre valiente, y un hombre valiente era él,
Que Dios proteja a toda la buena gente de tan mala compañía.
[Estribillo]