Lyrics
On Hounslow Heath as I rode o'er
Traveling over Hounslow Heath, the narrator notices a lawyer ahead.
I spied a lawyer riding before
Observing the lawyer riding before him.
"Kind Sir, you afraid of Turpin
The narrator asks the lawyer if he's afraid of Turpin, a notorious figure.
That mischievous blade?"
The lawyer inquires if Turpin is a dangerous person.
Oh, rare Turpin hero oh, rare Turpin, oh
Celebrating Turpin as a hero.
Said Turpin, "He'd never find me here
Turpin expresses confidence that he's hidden his money well.
I hid my money in my boot"
Turpin reveals hiding money in his boot.
Lawyer says, "No one can find
The lawyer claims to have hidden his gold in his cape.
I hid my gold in my cape behind"
The lawyer asserts that no one can find his hidden gold.
Oh, rare Turpin hero oh, rare Turpin, oh
Reiterating Turpin's heroism.
As they were riding past the mill
While passing a mill, Turpin orders the lawyer to stop.
Turpin commands him to stand still
Turpin instructs the lawyer to give up his cloak for his mare's saddle cloth.
He says, "Your cloak I must cut off
Turpin needs the cloak, and the lawyer complies.
My mare, she needs a saddle cloth"
The reason for taking the cloak is Turpin's mare needing a saddle cloth.
Oh, rare Turpin hero oh, rare Turpin, oh
Praising Turpin as a hero again.
As Turpin rode in search of prey
Turpin spots a man on a taxiway (possibly an anachronism), ordering him to stand.
He spied a man on taxiway
Turpin demands the man's gold.
And boldly then bid him stand
Assertively telling the man to stand and surrender his gold.
"Your gold, " he said, "I do demand"
The man is instructed to hand over his gold to Turpin.
Oh, rare Turpin hero oh, rare Turpin, oh
Repeating the celebration of Turpin's heroism.
And Turpin then without remorse
Turpin, without remorse, knocks the man off his horse.
He knocked him quite from off his horse
Turpin leaves the man on the ground and rides away with his gold.
And left him on the ground to sprawl
The man is left sprawled on the ground.
While he rode off with his gold and all
Turpin escapes with the man's gold and possessions.
Oh, rare Turpin hero oh, rare Turpin, oh
Once again hailing Turpin as a hero.
Turpin is condemned to die
Turpin is sentenced to death by hanging.
To hang upon the gallows high
He faces the gallows for his crimes.
His legacy is a strong rope
Turpin's legacy is described as a strong rope for hanging.
For the shooting of a dung-hill cock
The reason for his execution is given as the shooting of a dung-hill cock (a rooster).
Oh, rare Turpin hero oh, rare Turpin, oh
Repeating the praise for Turpin's heroism.
Oh, rare Turpin hero oh, rare Turpin, oh
Continuing the celebration of Turpin as a hero.
Oh, rare Turpin hero oh, rare Turpin, oh
Reiterating the rare heroism of Turpin.
Oh, rare Turpin hero oh, rare Turpin, oh
Concluding with another expression of Turpin's heroism.
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