It was 1599 . . .
In the drizzling rain he gazed out at the carriage drawing near,
And turned his horse, so he would block the way.
Two pistols held beneath his cloak,
Their powder to keep dry.
His hatbrim pulled down low across his face
"Hold!" He cried,
And make it fast; I haven't time to waste!"
"Hold", cried The Highwayman
"Your money or your life".
What a hard and lonely life it is he keeps
He'll never have a family.
He'll never take a wife
And when he dies, he'll leave no one to weep.
As he gathered up the spoils,
He paused to take a look inside
At a red-haired beauty dressed in silk and lace
and as he turned to ride away
Into the dismal rainy night
He found that he could not forget her face.
At a quiet wayside inn
Where he would drink and pass the time
He sorted out the wanderings of his heart
He cursed the world that drove him to this lonely life of crime
And he swore that he would make a second start
Then two men spoke, in voices low,
And he chanced to overhear,
As they planned the taking of a rich man's daughter
He froze when they described her hair
He felt a stab of fear
He knew what they would do when they had caught her...
And away rode The Highwayman
To his lovely lady's side.
You could hear the horse hooves thunder in the night
His black cloak flapping in the wind
His pistols by his side
He swore that he would kill two men tonight.
Through the wind and rain and darkness
He made his desperate way
To the mansion where he knew his lady dwelt
He pulled his hat brim low
And turned his horse to block the way
And drew his deadly pistols from his belt.
From an upper bedroom window
Came a lady's frightened cry
A moment more and out the door they came
They forced her up on horseback
And they mounted up to ride
But as they turned their horses up the lane . . .
"Hold," cried The Highwayman
"Free her or you die!"
( and a flash of recognition filled her eyes)
She kicked her horse and broke away
(He could have sworn she smiled)
His pistols flashed and thundered in the night
As the two men fell
She drew her horse up at his side
She said,"Come in sir, you surely must be cold."
They sat before the fire
And laughed and loved away the night
The red-haired beauty and her man so bold.
From the first time he laid eyes on her
He knew she was the one
Who could light the secret fire of his soul.
No more is he The Highwayman
His riding days are done
The Highwayman has found himself a home.
No more rides The Highwayman
His life is rearranged
His cloak and pistols hang beside the door
His red-haired beauty by his side
His name and habits changed
The Highwayman has found himself a home.
And I was The Highwayman
I feel it in my soul
And you the red-haired beauty that I knew
I know you'll think I am insane
But search your heart you'll know
The story of The Highwayman is true.
Copyright 1989 Randolph J. Sadewater
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