The wind was a torrent of darkness
among the ghastly trees
the moon was a ghostly galleon
tossed upon the cloudy seas
The road was a ribbon of moonlight
over the purple moor
when the highwayman came riding,
riding, riding,
the highwayman came riding
up to the old inn door.
He'd a french cocked hat at his forehead
a bunch of lace at his chin
a coat of claret velvet
and breeches of brown doe-skin
They fitted with nary a wrinkle
his boots were up to the thigh
and he rode with a jeweled twinkle
his pistol butts a-twinkle
his rapier hilt a-twinkle
under the jeweled sky.
And over cobbles he clattered
and clashed in the dark inn-yard
and he tapped with his whip on the shutters
but all was locked and barred
He whistled a tune to the window
and who should be waiting there
but the landlord's black-eyed daughter
Bess, the landlord's daughter
plaiting a dark red love knot
into her long black hair.
"One kiss my bonny sweetheart,
I'm after a prize tonight
But I should be back with the yellow gold
before the morning light
Yet if they press me sharply
and harry me through the day
Then look for me by the moonlight,
watch for me by the moonlight
I'll come to thee by the moonlight
though hell should bar the way."
He rose up right in the stirrups
he scarce could reach her hand
But she loosened her hair in the casement
his face burned like a brand
As a black cascade of purfume
came tumbling over his breast
And he kissed its waves in the moonlight
oh, sweet waves in the moonlight
He tugged at his rein in the moonlight
and galloped away to the west.
He did not come at the dawning
he did not come at noon
and out of the tawny sunset
before the rise of the moon
When the road was a gypsy's ribbon
looping the purple moor
a redcoat troop came marching
marching, marching,
King George's men cI used to be the man for you,
Did everything you wanted me to,
So, tell me, baby,
What did I do wrong...
I told you what you wanted to know,
Precious secrets never spoken before.
All I'm asking,
Where did I go wrong...
Some things are better left unsaid,
But, all I do is cry instead,
Now, I've cried me a river,
Thinking how it used to be...
There've been too many tears falling,
And there've been too many hearts
Breaking in two.
Remember what we had together,
Believing it would last forever.
So, tell me, baby,
Where did I go wrong...
Everything I had was yours,
More than I have ever given before,
So, won't you tell me
Did I hurt you so bad...
I guess I'm fooling myself,
'Cause I want you and no one else.
And I can't understand
Why you're doing these things to me...
And there've been too many tears falling,
And there've been too many hearts
Breaking in two...
Remember what we had together,
Believing it would last forever.
So, tell me, baby,
Where did I go wrong, where did I go wrong...
Now my heart is breaking,
My whole world is shaking,
'Cause I can't understand
Why you're doing these things to me...
There've been too many tears falling,
And there've been too many hearts
Breaking in two...
Remember what we had together,
Believing it would last forever...
So, tell me, baby,
Where did I go wrong
Where did I go wrong
Where did I go wrong...