Gamble Gold (Robin Hood) - Steeleye Span

There chanced to be a pedlar bold

A pedlar bold he chanced to be

He rolled his pack all on his back

And he came tripping o’er the sea

By chance he met two troublesome blades

Troublesome blades they chanced to be

One of them was Robin Hood

The other was Little John so free

Gentlemen on high born blood

Gamble Gold and Robin Hood

«Oh pedlar, pedlar what’s in the pack

Come speedily and tell to me»

«I've several suits of the gay green silk

And silken bow strings two of three»

«If you have suits of the gay green silk

And silken bow strings two of three»

«Then by my body» cries Robin Hood

«Half your pack belongs to me»

«Oh no, oh no,» says the pedlar bold

«No that can never be

There’s never a man in Nottingham

Can take one half my pack from me!»

Then the Pedlar he pulled off his pack

And put it a little below his knee

Saying, If you do move me one perch from this

My pack and all shall gang with thee

Then little John he drew his sword

The Pedlar by his pack did stand

They fought until they both did sweat

Till he cried, Pedlar, pray hold your hand

Then Robin Hood he was standing by

And he did laugh most heartily

Saying, I could find a man of smaller scale

Could thrash the Pedlar and also thee

Go you try, master, says little John

Go you try, master, most speedily

For by my body, says little John

I am sure this night you will know me

Then Robin Hood he drew his sword

And the pedlar by his pack did stand

They fought 'till the blood in streams did flow

And he cried «Pedlar hold hold your hand»

O Pedlar, Pedlar, what is thy name?

Come speedily and tell to me

Come, my name I ne’er will tell

Till both your names you have told to me

The one of us is bold Robin Hood

And the other is little John so free

Now, says the Pedlar, it lays to my good will

Whether my name I choose to tell to thee

I am Gamble Gold of the gay green woods

And I travelled far beyond the sea

For killing a man in my father’s land

And from my country was forced to flee

If you are Gamble Gold of the gay green woods

And travelled far beyond the sea

You are my mother’s own sister’s son

What nearer cousins can we be?

They sheathed their swords, with friendly words

So merrily they did agree

They went to a tavern and there they dined

And cracked bottles most merrily