I'm unsure if anyone's flagged up Fanny Blair on this thread as yet, and I haven't checked. But here it is, and a most fitting submission it seems for the theme, sung by our own MtheGM: Fanny Blair

The lyrics are quite sad, I find myself siding with the child (presumably) prostitute "perjuring whore" for some reason, perhaps simply because the anti-heroine is a theme that always engages me or perhaps it's because of the gathered crowd's murmurings against her and the calls for her to be caught and "cropped".
I wonder what the crime was that he went down for, and what she accused him of? And was he innocent or guilty? And what could his young accuser have gotten out of the whole deal, if she had falsely accused him?

I think these lyrics differ slightly, to those MtheGM sings:

Come all you young men and maidens whereever you may be
Beware of false swearing and sad perjury
For it is by a false woman I am wounded so soon
And you see how I am cut down in the height of my bloom.

It was last Monday morning I lay in my bed
A young friend came to me and unto me said
Rise up Dennis Higgins and flee you elsewhere
For they're now down against you for the young Fanny Blair.

Fanny Blair is a girl of eleven years old
And if I was a-dying the truth I'd unfold
It's I never had dealings with her in my time
And it's I have to die for another man's crime

On the day of the trial squire Vernon was there
And it's on the green table he handed Fanny Blair
And the oath that she swore I am ashamed to tell
And the judge spoke up quickly you have told it well

Dennis Higgins of Branfield whither art thou flown
That you are a poor prisoner condemned and alone
If John O'Neil of Shane's Castle only was here
In spite of (Dawson) n'er known he'd soon set you clear

On the day that young Higgins was condemned to die
The people rose up with a murmuring cry
Go catch her and crop her she's a perjuring whore
Young Dennis is innocent we are very sure

One thing yet remaining I ask you my friends
To wake me in Branfield amongst my dear friends
Bring my body to lie in Merrylee mold
And I hope that great God will pardon my soul