The Bodleian collection has two copies of this song: Harding B 15(126b) and Harding B 11(757):


HARK AWAY, BESS!

1. When bold Turpin mounted his bonny black steed,
His pursuers were close at his heels,
Like the whiz of a ball from a cannon that speeds
Until distance between them he feels,
And as he rides by, the hue and the cry,
They urge the bold robber to stay,
As onward he flies, the bold robber cries,
"My bonny Black Bess, hark away!"
Hark away, Bess!
As onward, &c.

2. As the sight of a turnpike-gate being nigh,
E'en Dick's heart began for to quail.
"We have gained on him now," his pursuers they cry.
"We shall catch Turpin now without fail!"
The gate shut appears; Bess pricks up her ears.
"Right, master," she seems next to say,
And over she flies, while Dick Turpin cries,
"My bonny Black Bess, hark away!"
And over, &c.

3. The gate being cleared, without any fear,
Dick's pursuers' hearts began for to quake.
They one and all cried, "I fear we ne'er shall
This bold daring rider o'ertake."
The gate being cleared, Bess prances and rears,
And onward she now takes her way.
So now they are foiled, the bold robber smiled,
"My bonny Black Bess, hark away!"
So now, &c.

4. Now Dick Turpin bold, with his bonny black steed,
(We never shall see them again.)
Through many a night and a sunshiny day,
They were chased over meadow and plain.
At length forced to part, which grieved him at heart,
For a better he never could have,
For now she is dead, an on her green bed,
She'll never more hark away!
For now, &c.