BRUTON TOWN
(Traditional)
Pentangle - 1968
Tim Hart & Maddy Prior - 1968
Davy Graham - 1969
Hilary James - 1996
Mason Brown & Chipper Thompson - 2001 


In Bruton town there lived a farmer,
Who had two sons and one daughter dear.
By day and night they were contriving
To fill their parents' heart with fear.

He told his secrets to no other,
But unto her brother this he said:
'I think our servant courts our sister.
I think they has a great mind to wed.
I'll put an end to all their courtship.
I'll send him silent to his grave.'

They asked him to go a-hunting,
Without any fear or strife,
And these two bold and wicked villains,
They took away this young man's life.

And in the ditch there was no water,
Where only bush and briars grew.
They could not hide the blood of slaughter,
So in the ditch his body they threw.

When they returned home from hunting,
She asked for her servant-man.
"I ask because I see you whisper,
So brothers tell me if you can."

"O sister, you do offend me,
Because you so examine me.
We've lost him where we've been a-hunting.
No more of him we could not see."

As she lay dreaming on her pillow,
She thought she saw her heart's delight;
By her bed side as she lay weeping,
He was dressed all in his bloody coat.

"Don't weep for me, my dearest jewel,
Don't weep for me nor care nor pine,
For your two brothers killed me so cruel-
In such a place you may me find."

As she rose early the very next morning,
With heavy sigh and bitter groan,
The only love that she admired,
She found in the ditch where he was thrown.

Three days and nights she did sit by him,
And her poor heart was filled with woe,
Till cruel hunger crept upon her,
And home she was obliged to go.


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ALTERNATE VERSION:

In Bruton Town there lived a farmer
Who had two sons and one daughter dear.
By day and night they were conniving,
To fill their parents' hearts with fear.

One told his secret to none other,
But unto his brother this he said,
"I think our servant courts our sister,
And I think they have a mind to wed."

If he our servant courts our sister,
That maid from such a shame I'll save.
I'll put an end to all their courtship,
And send him silent to his grave.

A day of hunting was prepared,
In thorny woods where briars grew.
And there they did that young man a murder,
And in the brake his fair body threw.

Now welcome home, my dear young brothers,
Our servant man is he behind?
We've left him where we've been a hunting,
We've left him where no man can find.

She went to bed crying and lamenting,
Lamenting for her own true love.
She slept, she dream'd, she saw him by her,
All cover'd o'er in a gore of blood.

You rise up early tomorrow morning
And straightway to the brake you know,
And then you'll find my body lying,
All cover'd o'er in a gore of blood.

Then she rose early the very next morning,
Unto the garden brake she went,
And there she found, her own dear jewel
All cover'd o'er in a gore of blood.

She took her kerchief from her pocket,
And wiped his eyes though he was blind;
Because he was my own true lover,
My own true lover and friend of mine.

And since my brothers have been so cruel
To take your tender sweet life away,
One grave shall hold us both together
And along with you in death I'll stay.