The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #82224   Message #1505402
Posted By: Rank
20-Jun-05 - 04:45 PM
Thread Name: Tune Req: They hang the man and flog the woman
Subject: Tune Req: They hang the man and flog the woman
This song or poem is apparently circa 1764 and while there are thousands of links to it on the internet, most are concerned with commons theft, or using it to make a political point. Anyway I couldn't find any information about the author, or whether it had a tune or not.

They hang the man and flog the woman
That steal the goose from off the common,
But let the greater villain loose
That steals the common from the goose.

The law demands that we atone
When we take things we do not own
But leaves the lords and ladies fine
Who take things that are yours and mine.

The poor and wretched don't escape
If they conspire the law to break;
This must be so but they endure
Those who conspire to make the law.

The law locks up the man or woman
Who steals the goose from off the common'
And geese will still a common lack
Till they go and steal it back.