1. The Highwayman Outwitted
(Roud 2637) Traditional

There once was a young man, his name it was John;
Hired with a farmer in the County Tyrone.
On the fair day of Clady the farmer took unwell;
So he sent John to the market with a cow for to sell,

Raddley rang doo a daddy doo a da doo a dan.

John drove the cow away out of the barn,
And off to the fair he instantly ran,
He didn't go so far till he met two dealing men,
Who soon bought the cow and they paid him there and then.

Then into an alehouse John went for a glass,
His feet for to rest and an hour for to pass,
“Where will I put the money?” to the landlady he did say,
“Or where will I hide it, Oh tell me I pray.”

“In the lining of your coat I will sew it,” said she,
“For fear on the road that it's robbed you might be.”
The robber in the room sat there sipping at his wine,
And he says to himself, “All that money will be mine.”

When John started out for his home that afternoon,
The robber, he followed him out of the room,
He soon overtook him and this to him did say,
“Won't you jump up behind me, for I'm going your way.”

They hadn't gone so far when the robber turned about,
A bright, gleaming pistol he quickly pulled out,
“Deliver up your money without either grief or strife,
Or at this very moment I will take your sacred life.”

Then John was afraid if he tried to refuse,
And feared for his life, there was no time to lose,
From the lining of his coat he tore the money out,
And among the tall grasses he scattered it all about.

The highwayman he quickly jumped down from his horse,
But little he thought it was all to his loss,
While he gathered up the money that he found among the grass,
John hopped into the saddle and rode off with his horse.

The farmer's wee daughter saw John coming home,
And into her father she quickly ran,
“Arra, John,” said the farmer, “Tell my why did you swap,
Or how did me cow turn into a horse?”

“Well, indeed, then,” said John, “It's the truth I will unfold,
I was stopped on the road by a wee highman bold,
While he gathered up your money that I threw among the grass,
Just to make ye amendment, I've brought home his horse.”

When the saddle bag was opened it was found for to hold,
Five hundred bright guineas in silver and gold,
A bright pair of pistols, and the farmer he did vow,
Saying, “John, m' young fellow, you're the boy can sell a cow!”