Lyr Req: The Highwayman (R. Bruce)

Subject: Shanty/Tavern Song Lyrics
From: GUEST,Bob Henke
Date: 14 Feb 20 - 07:47 PM

Back in college, before the crust of the earth cooled, I heard a coffee house singer do a shanty/drinking song the refrain of which went, "So give him a lick with a sturdy stick and swing him round and round. For who can know what a man might say when he's hanging upside down. When he hanging upside down." The lyrics detailed how the fellow wound up in such circumstance (Being aloof with his fellows) ang go on to philosophy of drinking, working, and the opposite sex. I have never been able to find the lyrics or another performer of this particular work. Ring any bells?

Subject: RE: Shanty/Tavern Song Lyrics
From: cnd
Date: 15 Feb 20 - 11:49 AM

Bob, I couldn't find anything about this song given the lyrics you gave. Do you have any other recollections of the song?

Subject: RE: Shanty/Tavern Song Lyrics
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Mar 20 - 10:28 PM

I just heard this song the other day on jeff and Larry comedy on sirius radio. I can't find it anywhere but the comedian was R. BRUCE

Subject: Lyr Add: THE HIGHWAYMAN (R. Bruce)
From: cnd
Date: 01 Apr 20 - 12:19 AM

Finally found it for you Bob! Thanks for your tip GUEST -- thankfully, it was at the end of his first album on YouTube and not his last!

The song is called "The Highwayman" by R. Bruce. You can listen to it here, which is where I transcribed these lyrics from.


THE HIGHWAYMAN
As recorded by R. Bruce on "Late Bloomer" (2007)

We found ourselves a fancy man; a wealthy man was he.
We tied his boots together and we hung him from a tree,
Hung him from a tree.

So give him a lick with a sturdy stick and swing him round and round,
'Cause who can say what a man will pay when he's hanging upside down,
Hanging upside down?

Which we'll spend the coin on whiskey until our heads explode,
And then we'll all get naked and paint ourselves with woad,
Paint ourselves with woad.

So give him a lick with a sturdy stick and swing him round and round,
'Cause who can say what a man will pay when he's hanging upside down,
Hanging upside down?

There are wenches young, and wenches old, and wenches plump and fine,
And when it's gold enough I have, they will all be mine,
They will all be mine.

So give him a lick with a sturdy stick and swing him round and round,
'Cause who can say what a man will pay when he's hanging upside down,
Hanging upside down?

And then we'll drink, and drink some more, and drink and drink and drink,
And drink and drink, and drink some more, and drink and drink and drink,
And drink and drink and drink.

So give him a lick with a sturdy stick and swing him round and round,
'Cause who can say what a man will pay when he's hanging upside down,
Hanging upside down?

Subject: RE: Shanty/Tavern Song Lyrics
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 01 Apr 20 - 04:59 AM

Surely 'paint ourselves with woad' as the ancient Britons did. You know, the blue stuff, or perhaps I've been following the song's advice, mutter, mutter....I'll go paint meself with woad. Nobody'll notice.

Subject: RE: Shanty/Tavern Song Lyrics
From: cnd
Date: 01 Apr 20 - 07:56 AM

Steve, that certainly makes much more sense than whatever I brewed up last night.... I can't say I was familiar with the tradition before, but that's a much more logical explanation. Thanks for that!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Highwayman (R. Bruce)
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jul 20 - 11:52 PM

Thank you!