Silly Old Man

from Ghost by Kate Rusby

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    Kate's album containing 12 self-penned and traditional tracks from Kate Rusby "A newer approach to the recording process is evident: subtle but significant newer approaches have been introduced into the fabric; arrangements and production values have shifted" Colin Hall

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about

words trad & Kate Rusby, tune Kate Rusby

lyrics

Come and I’ll sing you a song of intent,
Concerning a silly old man,
Who went off to pay to the landlord his rent,
And into some trouble he ran.

For as he was riding along the green way,
A gentleman thief passed him by,
“I’m company sir, do you need me to stay”
“Oh no” was the old man’s reply.

“Oh as you can see I’m a silly old man,
I farm but a parcel of ground,
To the land lord I go” said the silly old man,
“to pay up my rent forty pound”

“But what if you meet with a highway man here,
Their numbers are many I’ll bid”,
“Oh I will not worry and I will not fear,
for inside my saddle it’s hid”.

The two of them rode then as fast as they can,
Til’ the gentleman thief up he sped,
“Oh stand and deliver you silly old man,
You should have stayed home in your bed”.

But the old man was crafty and cunning and sly,
And long on this earth he had been,
His saddle he tossed o’re the hedge with a cry,
Saying “fetch it yourself you young fiend”.

The thief being thirsty for silver and gold,
Was eager to get to the bags,
He drew out his rusty old sword then so bold,
And chopped up the saddle to rags.

The old man he jumped off his tired old horse,
And mounted the thief’s horse astride,
He gave her a kick to a gallop of course,
And away to the town he did ride.

When he came to the landlords he came with good cheer,
But never the story he told,
The thief’s bag he opened to buy them some beer,
It was brimming with silver and gold.

The rent it was paid, and the debt was made good,
The silly old man journeyed back,
And there in the lane his old mare she stood,
With nought but the hair on her back.

He loosened the mare then from where she was tied,
And gave her a slap with his whip,
Saying come along home now and stay by my side,
And off down the lane they did trip.

When he came to his house there was joy and delight,
His daughter she dressed like a queen,
His old wife she danced an old jig through the night,
So much money she never had seen

credits

from Ghost, released November 7, 2022
Vocal - Kate Rusby
Guitar and Banjo - Damien O’Kane
Double Bass - Duncan Lyall
Diatonic Accordion - Nick Cooke
Whistles - Mike McGoldrick

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about

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Kate Rusby England, UK

Forever proud to call herself a folk singer, Kate celebrates her own 50 yrs with her 'Established 1973' tours.

2022 marked 30 yrs as a professional musician with the album 30:Happy Returns

Hand Me Down (2020) was her highest-charting album.

Named in the Top 10 Folk Voices of the Century and a Mercury Prize in 1999

Yorkshire roots the carols in her Christmas tour. ... more

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