Just listened to Billy Bragg and Wilco's version Of Woody Guthrie's Unwelcome Guest again and just HAD to post the lyrics...also the youtude I posted in this thread back in Feb has some amazing photos, and the comments have a bit of history about the song - I didn't realise it was about Dick Turpin and his horse Bess.

'Unwelcome Guest' words by Woody Guthrie, music by Billy Bragg and Wilco, from the album MERMAID AVENUE

    To the rich man's bright lodges, I ride in this wind
On my good horse, I call you, My shiny black Bess

To the playhouse of fortune To take the bright silver
And gold you have taken From somebody else

And as we go riding In the damp foggy midnight
You snort, my good pony, And you give me your best

For you know and I know, Good horse 'mongst the rich ones
How oftimes we go there An unwelcome guest

I never took food From the widows and orphans
And never a hardworking man I oppressed

So take your pace easy For home soon like lightning
We soon will be riding My shiny black Bess

No fat rich man's pony Can ever overtake you
And there's not a rider From the east to the west

Could hold you a light In this dark mist and midnight
When the potbellied thieves Chase the unwelcome guest

I don't know, good horse As we trot in this dark here
That robbing the rich Is for worse or for best

They take it by stealing And lying and gambling
And I take it my way My shiny Black Bess

I treat horses good And I'm friendly to strangers
I ride and your running Makes my guns talk the best

And the rangers and deputies Are hired by the rich man
To catch me and hang me, My shining black Bess

Yes, they'll catch me napping one day,And they'll kill me
And then I'll be gone, But that won't be my end

For my guns and my saddle Will always be filled
By unwelcome travellers And other brave men

And they'll take the money And spread it out equal
Just like the Bible And the prophets suggest

But men that go riding To help these poor workers
The rich will cut down Like an unwelcome guest