Though A Wicked Life I Led (Lyrics Trad And Ian Inkster (Chorus) , Music Ian Inkster) Poem by Dr Ian Inkster

Though A Wicked Life I Led

This ballad was published as ‘Turpin's Appeal to the Judge in His Defence', printed and sold by J.Pitts 6 Great Saint Andrews Street, Seven Dials. For details see H.G.Harper, Half-hours with the Highwaymen, London,1908, II p.235. This does not mean this was its original birth and there are various versions.

The repeated but modified chorus is mine.

As Harper in his book states, the balladeers ‘did not pretend to historical accuracy, or to grammar, scansion or anything but a rude way of appealing to the feelings of the rustics, whose lives of unrelenting toil for poor wages embittered them more than they knew against the rich [vol2 p234]. Of course the judge had no time for such a plea, if Turpin could not repent ‘For what is done and past, You say the hungry you've clothed and fed, But you must die at Last'. The two choruses I have added for better scansion and melodic balance may not have much eased the poor chap's mind!

Ian Inkster October 2017, Lescala.