Pentangle
Bruton Town
Transcribed by Doug Johnson* on October 25, 2002
from the CD 'Early Classics'




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

He told his secrets to no other
But to her brother this he said:
"I'll think our servant courts our sister
I think they have a 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."

"Oh sister, you do offend me
Because you examine me,
We left 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 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 cruelly 
In such a place as you may find."

 . . . 

As she rose early the next morning
With a heavy sigh and a bitter groan,
The only love that she admired
Lay 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...