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The Eve of the Paddington Fair

from Earthly Pursuits by Harley String Band

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about

“The Eve of the Paddington Fair” is based on the last rites read to convicts before their hanging spectacle in 17th century England.

lyrics

Your lamp is flickering low boy
On the eve of the Paddington Fair
So breathe in deep of the dampening air
Mark well your shadow’s unsteady dance
Upon the cold stone wall
And the smoke as it rises and falls
Oh you’re the talk of the town boy
The toast of the Paddington Fair
Though many will offer a heartfelt prayer
In spite of the mercies that you’ve been shown
They’ve finally done you in boy
Your wickedness and your sin
You’ll don your fine white hat and coat
On the morning of Paddington Fair
From Newgate out through Hanover Square
As bricklayers beggars and ladies fair
Will toss you fruit and flowers
To mock your final hour
Atop the hill in Tyburn Green
In the middle of Paddington Fair
The hideous wooden three-legged mare
A rickety ladder and ten thousand necks
But a necklace just for one
All shining in the sun
A hush will come over the crowd boy
Throughout the Paddington Fair
To hear what repentance you may declare
As if your words and your miserable sobs
Could save you from their scorn
For you’ll wear no crown of thorns
So nod to the ladies and gentlemen
In the stands of the Paddington Fair
They paid well to watch as you dance on air
To see how you jerk and soil yourself
And you offer up your tongue
As your tender neck is wrung
Will you hear your dear old mother boy
O’er the crowd at the Paddington Fair
She’ll weep o’er your corpse and stroke your hair
She’ll fight with the Royal Surgeon’s men
Who’d strip you from your hide
To see what lies inside
Your lamp is flickering low boy
On the eve of the Paddington Fair

credits

from Earthly Pursuits, released April 1, 2015
9. The Eve of the Paddington Fair
©2008 Stephen R Coffee (ASCAP)
Steve Coffee: Guitar, Lead Vocal
Jim Clark: Irish Bouzouki
Jim Johnson: Guitar

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Harley String Band Fairfax, Virginia

The Harley String Band is a trio of bold singer-songwriters who just happen to favor banjo, mandolin, and bouzouki in support of their adventurous songscapes. Jim, Jim, and Steve are old enough to remember when folk music was considered important and relevant, and they work to meet that expectation. ... more

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