Roger O'Hehir - Planxty

At the Eight Mile Bridge in the county Down

I had honest parents of fame and renown

Oh had I been obedient and kept the command

I never would have broken the laws of the land

Right follow the Dee

My parents endeavoured to give me honest bread

They bound me apprentice unto the linen trade

All to an honest weaver thet lived hard by

My heart was for rambling I could not comply

One beautiful creature, Jane Sharkey by name

I gained her affections and I was to blame

I own I enticed her and we ran away

My troubles began from the very same day

That beautiful creature I soon left forlorne

For fear of her parents I stepped up the Mourne

But her cruel father pursued me with spite

He made me his prisoner that very same night

It’s off to Newry guardhouse straight way I was sent

To whip me next morning it was their intent

When I heard of this, it put me in a fright

I broke Newry guardhouse the very same night

And the guards they pursued me the very next day

The guards I beguiled and I soon got away

I went down to the shore where a vessel it did lay

I set my foot on shipboard to England sailed away

And then when that I landed in sweet Holyhead

I had no honest means for to earn me my bread

And I was loathe to beg but alas I did worse

To make myself money I stole a grey horse

And it’s then when I landed once more on Irish ground

I soon began my tricks again near a fair in Newry town

For I stole a hat from one Thomas Right

He made me his prisoner that very same night

And it’s off to Newry guardhouse once more I was sent

To hang me next morning it was their intent

When I heard of this well it put me in a fright

I knocked down the turnkey and escaped the same night

And the guards they pursued me again the next day

The guards I soon beguiled and once more I got away

Said one unto the other «He'll travel no more»

The very same night Newry Lough I swam o’er

And I rested myself for a day or two in moor

I went to rob a Bleachcream fair I never was before

But they were strong with guards and the Bleachcream within

Surrounded was poor Roger and taken was again

Now Roger was taken but often did get free

It’s come now to his turn for to march to the tree

And all his foolish actions he there did declare

And that put an end to old Roger O’Hehir