Men They Couldn't Hang Smugglers
The boat rides south of Ailsa Craig in the waning of the light There's thirty men in Lendalfit to make our burden light And there's thirty horse in Hazleholm with the halters on their heads All set this night up on your life if wind and water speed Smugglers drink of the frenchmens wine and the darkest night is the smugglers lime Away we ran from the excise man It's a smugglers life for me It's a smugglers life for me Oh lass you have a cozy bed, and cattle you have ten Can you not live a lawful life and live with lawful men? But must I use old homely goods while there's foreign gear so fine? Must I drink at the waterside and France so full of wine Smugglers drink of the frenchmens wine and the darkest night is the smugglers time Away we ran from the excise man It's a smugglers life for me It's a smugglers life for me Though well I like to see you Kate, with a baby on your knee My heart is now with gallant crew that plough through the angry sea The hitter gale, the tightest sail, and the sheltered bay or goal It's the wayward life, it's the smugglers strife, it's the joy of the smugglers soul Smugglers drink of the frenchmens wine and the darkest night is the smugglers time Away we ran from the excise man It's a smugglers life for me It's a smugglers life for me And when at last the dawn comes up and the cargo safely stored Like sinless saints to church we'll go. God's mercy to afford And It's champagne fine for communion wine and the parson drinks it too With a sly wink prays "forgive these men, for they know not what they do" Smugglers, drink of the frenchmens wine and the darkest night is the smugglers time Away we ran from the excise man It's a smugglers life for me It's a smugglers life for me It's a smugglers life for me It's a smugglers life for me
