Sanguinary Butcher

Twas in the Royal Town of Rye, on a night dreadful and cold

James Lamb the Mayor unlocked his door and walked out all alone

His son he had invited him his ship to come aboard

But the mayor would rather stay at home all as the thunder roared

He saw a man out in the street, and recognized his face

And asked this man, his wife's brother, to go all in his place

Why yes dear Lamb I'll go for you, the fateful words he said

If 'n you will lend to me your cloak that is blood red

Breeds the Butcher sat alone, a-sharpenin' his knife

For he knew James Lamb the mayor went on the ship that night

Lamb had fined the butcher Breeds for serving measures short

And in revenge Breeds swore to kill the mayor of the Cinque Port

It was just behind St.Mary's Church, close by the Ypres Tower

He hid himself behind a grave until the fateful hour

He recognized the blood red coat just as it passed him by

Out came Breeds and stabbed his foe with his butcher knife

Now all things being silent, Lamb dreamed an awful dream

His dead wife's spirit came to him to warn him as it seemed

(The) second time she came that night, he saw a ghostly light

She said "Go find my brother dear, for Murder walks tonight"

Three times she appeared to him, her husband in his bed

And on the third he rose to find the poor ghost's brother dead

The knife was found upon a grave by some brave local man

And Breeds still drunk upon the town sang "Butchers should kill lambs"

He got no mercy at the trial, the judge he was no friend

For it was the same James Lamb whose life he'd meant to end

The murderer, he was hanged beneath the Strand Gate Arch

His body put into a cage and hanged upon the marsh

They put his skull in Rye Town Hall, and there it is today

"Killed by a sanguinary butcher" writ upon a grave

So, come all ye who seek revenge and look upon John Breeds

Who murdered one he never knew and was hung by his enemy