The Man of Burnham Town Songtext
von Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick

In Burnham Town there lived a man
And he had such a lovely wife
And so dearly she loved bad company
So dearly she loved her life, boys, life
So dearly she loved her life

So this poor man he goes to sea
A living for to get
If he spent one penny his wife spent two
And it's all for the want of wit, boys, wit
And it's all for the want of wit

When this poor man came home from sea
It being late in the night
Enquiring for his own dear wife
She was his joy and his heart's delight, boys, oh his light
Oh she was his heart's delight


Oh she's just gone down to her sister's
Shall I go fetch her in?
Then he begun to think, Oh no
I'll go meself to drink, boys, drink
Oh I'll go meself to drink

So as he was going down the road
Oh he heard such a dismal noise
And who should it be but his own dear wife
Along with the Burnham boys, brave boys
Along with the Burnham boys

This poor man stood a-thinking
And his heart was nearly broke
Then he went back and he fetched the maid
While he prepared a rope, a rope
While he prepared a rope

Then she came a-skipping and a-jumping in
Gave him such a joyful kiss
Saying, You're welcome home, kind husband dear
Long time you have been missed, me boys
Long time you have been missed


So we'll bar the door so neat and snug
And let us go to bed
For the pain that do lay in my breast
Oh it can no longer wait, me boys
Oh it can no longer wait

Then he took a stick and he beat her
Till she was wonderful sore
Forbear, she cried, Oh husband dear
And I'll never do that no more, no more
And I'll never do that no more

Oh and if you do I'll make you rue
And curse the day you were born
For a cuckolding of your husband dear
I'll make you wear the horn, me boys
Oh I'll make you wear the horn

So all you women in Burnham
Come listen unto me
And don't you spend your money on waste
When your husband is out on the sea, me boys
When your husband is out on the sea