Brennan On The Moor
Words & Music:
Traditional
Many thanks to
correspondent Tom Loomis, who introduced me to this song. According to the scotsindependent.org
site: "...Willie Brennan was
an Irish Robin Hood/Rob Roy figure in the late 1700s. He was a Waterford man, but carried out most of his exploits
in either the Kilworth Mountains, Cork or in Co. Tipperary. He was betrayed by a comrade for the
price on his head. Willie was
executed in Clonmel Gaol and buried in Kilcrumper between Kilworth and Fermoy. His grave was not marked..." It is believed that he was hanged in
1804
C
G7 C
'Tis of a brave young
highwayman, this story I will tell.
C
F
C
His name was Willie Brennan
and in Ireland he did dwell.
Am
F
C
It was on the Kilwood Mountain
he commenced his wild career.
F
C
Em
And many a wealthy nobleman
before him shook with fear.
CHORUS:
C
Em
Brennan on the moor, Brennan
on the moor.
F C
G7
C
Bold, brave undaunted was
young Brennan on the moor.
A brace of loaded pistols, he
carried night and day.
He never robb'd a poor man
upon the King's highway.
But what he's taken from the
rich, like Turpin and Black Bess,
He always did divide it with
the widow in distress.
CHORUS:
One night, he robbed a
packman, his name was Pedlar Bawn.
They travelled on together,
'til day began to dawn.
The pedlar, seeing his money
gone, likewise his watch and chain,
He at once encountered Brennan
and robbed him back again.
CHORUS:
When Brennan saw the pedlar
was as good a man as he,
He took him on the highway,
his companion for to be.
The pedlar threw away his pack
without any more delay,
And proved a faithful comrade
until his dying day.
CHORUS:
One day upon the highway, as
young Willie, he went down,
He met the mayor of Cashiell a
mile outside of town.
The mayor he knew his features
and he said, "Young man," said he,
"Your name is Willie
Brennan & you must come along with me."
CHORUS:
Now, Brennan's wife had gone
to town, provisions for to buy.
And when she saw her Willie,
she commenced to weep and cry;
He said, "Hand to me that
tenpence," and as soon as Willie spoke,
She handed him a blunderbuss
from underneath her cloak.
CHORUS:
Now, with this loaded
blunderbuss - the truth I will unfold -
He made the mayor tremble and
he robbed him of his gold.
One hundred pounds was offered
for his apprehension there.
So, he, with horse and saddle
to the mountains did repair.
CHORUS:
Now, Brennan being an outlaw
upon the mountains high.
With cavalry and infantry to
take him they did try.
He laughed at them with scorn
until at last 'twas said
By a false-hearted young man
he was cruelly betrayed.
CHORUS:
In the County of Tipperary, in
a place they call Clonmore,
Willie Brennan and his comrade
that day did suffer sore.
He lay among the fern which
was thick upon the field,
And nine wounds he had
received before that they did yield.
CHORUS:
Then Brennan and his companion
knowing they were betrayed,
He with the mounted cavalry a
noble battle made.
He lost his foremost finger,
which was shot off by a ball;
So, Brennan and his comrades
they were taken after all.
CHORUS:
So, they were taken prisoners,
in irons they were bound
And conveyed to Clonmel jail,
strong walls did them surround.
They were tried and found
guilty, the judge made this reply.
"For robbing on the
King's Highway you are both condemned to die."
CHORUS:
"Farewell unto my wife,
and to my children three,
Likewise my ged father, he may
shed tears for me.
And to my loving mother, who
tore her gray locks and cried,
Saying 'I wish, Willie
Brennan, in your cradle you had died'."
CHORUS: