Storm,

Rasta is right, but I will help you along even further. If you enjoy Kingston Trio, then you can find lyrics is you click here. Don't forget to bookmark!

And here are the slightly different lyrics the Tom Drake takes credit for.

THE ESCAPE OF OLD JOHN WEBB
(Tom Drake)

Five men to guard the British rank and five to watch the town above
And two to stand at either hand and one to let Bill Tenner out.
He had eighty weight of Spanish iron between his neck bone and his knee,
But Billy took Johnny up under his arm and lugged him away right manfully.

Chorus:
And Billy broke locks and Billy broke bolts and Billy broke all that he came nigh,
Until he came to the dungeon door and that he broke right manfully.

So he stole him a horse and away he did ride and who but they rode gallantly,
Until they came to the river bank to the river runnin' wild and free!
The British were comin' close on their heels and who but they stood fearfully,
'Till Billy took Johnny up on his back and carried him over it easily. (Chorus)

So they called at the inn for a room to dance and who but they danced merrily
And the very best dancer among them all was old John Webb who was just set free!




Also, if you check the song in the database, it leads you to two Child ballads. Don't know if they are in the DT or not.

Roger in Baltimore

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Note from Joe Offer: These lyrics are exactly what is sung on the Kingston Trio String Along album, which attributes the song to Ervin Drake. The Harry Fox Agency identifies the songwriter as T. Drake, so I think Roger is correct.
-Joe Offer, August, 2008-