You ran me ragged bonny lad,

You ran me ragged true ,

I’ve nay been run as ragged lad,

As I were run by you.

Up highland trail or lowland dell,

Or rock strewn mountain pass,

And I’ll grant I’ve never seen,

A highwayman run near as fast,

And every time I thought you caught,

You slipped out of the net,

And if not for my skulduggery,

You’d still be running yet.

So hoist him up upon a crate,

And fasten off the rope,

Let’s see how fast you run my lad,

With a noose around your throat.

Though you made a pretty penny lad,

With your blunderbuss and sword,

Till you were betrayed by a pretty maid,

That craved the kings’ reward.

Come hither lass and take it,

Be not afraid of him,

Stand by my side and claim your prize,

For he’s about to swing.

I’ll count it out for all to see,

Three guineas and ten shilling,

Now remove the crate and let him meet his fate,

Hangman if thou art willing.

But why doth thou laugh so, bonny lad,

Is death now so appealing?

And pretty maid, what are you pray,

Beneath your sleeve, concealing?

A flintlock pistol, primed and cocked,

And aimed toward my breast,

Oh, pretty maid, ‘twas I betrayed,

Forsooth, I must protest.

Hangman, do your duty quick,

And kick the crate away,

Alack, alas, I am an ass,

For you too are in his pay.

Thus here I stand, bound at the hands,

My own fault, I suppose,

Devoid of purse, but even worse,

My shoes, doublet and hose.

And perched upon the very crate,

On which he was suspended,

I should have caught that vagabond alone,

And not on those two depended.

Now each move I make is a mistake,

For I can feel the noose knot tighten,

And I would lie, if I said that I,

Were not a wee bit frightened.

But it’s too late for me to make complaint,

For woe is me, I say,

As the noose draws tight, my last sight,

Is to watch them ride away.

By S.E.Ralph

13-02-2019