To you my dear companions accept these lines I pray; A most deeply felt trial has occupied this day. 'Tis from your dying Broughton, to show his wretched fate, I hope you'll reformation make before it is too late.
The loss of your companion will grieve your heart full sore, I know that my fair Ellen will my wretched fate deplore; Thinking of those happy days that now are past and gone, And I, unhappy Broughton, would I had ne'er been born.
One day unto St. James's with large and swelling pride, Each man had a flash woman walking by his side, And at night we did retire unto some ball or play; In these unhappy pleasures our time did pass away.
Brought up in wicked habits which wrought in me no fear, How little did I think that my time would be so near; But now I'm overtaken, condemned and cast to die, Exposed a sad example to all that does pass by.
O that I had but gone unto some far distant clime, That a gibbet post for Broughton would never have been mine; But as for such like wishes they are vanity and vain, Alas, it is but folly and madness to complain.
One night to try and slumber I closed my weeping eyes, I heard a foot approaching which struck me with surprise; I listened for a moment, a voice made this reply, "Prepare thyself, Spence Broughton, tomorrow thou must die."
O awful was the messenger, and dismal was the sound, Like a maniac in distraction I rolled upon the ground; My tears now flow in torrents, with anguish I am torn, O poor unhappy Broughton, would I had ne'er been born.
Farewell my wife and children, to you I bid adieu, I never should have come to this had I stayed at home with you; But I hope through my Redeemer to gain the happy shore; Farewell, farewell for ever, Spence Broughton is no more.
The versions of this song that I have seen show only small variations; the above is, I think, a reasonable compromise. A midi of the tune -from Kidson, as Bruce says above- goes to the Mudcat Midi Site. By way of a small advertisement, I should mention that this, and 29 other songs from South Yorkshire and the North Midlands, are included in The South Riding Songbook, which is available through the South Riding Folk Network's website, at http://folk-network.com