Fairport Convention – The Naked Highwayman chords

[Intro]
C     G    C     G

[Verse]
   CAs I rode out one summer's day, for profit and for pleasure
                                                    GI planned to rob the London coach and take it at my leisure
  CA brace of pistols duly primed, a sabre fit to shave on
                                                      GI waited underneath the trees that lined the banks of Avon

[Verse]
  CI didn't hear her dainty step, as she appeared before me
                                                      GA face to charm a singing bird, with words that did implore me
 C"Can you help me sir?" she said, "I fear the time is near run
                                                    GFor me to cross before the tide swells the banks of Avon"

[Chorus]
C                                        FAll you roving fellows, listen while you can
C                                        FOf the time that I became a naked highwayman
     C                                        FCome all you roving fellows, listen while you can
C                                        FOf the time that I became a naked highwayman

[Verse]
   CSo gallantly I did dismount and walked into the water
                                                 GAs she told me that she was a wealthy merchant's daughter
CSo I thought I'd try my luck and do my best to charm her
                                     GSaid I was the only son of a country farmer

[Verse]
      C"Your hands they are as smooth as silk, they never touched a plough, sir
                                                 GI suppose those pistols help you milking of your cows"
    CShe looked at me with mocking eyes, as coal-black as a raven
                                                   GAnd then she fell into my arms beside the banks of Avon

[Chorus]
C                                        FAll you roving fellows, listen while you can
C                                        FOf the time that I became a naked highwayman
     C                                        FCome all you roving fellows, listen while you can
C                                        FOf the time that I became a naked highwayman

[Instrumental]
F    Am    D    Am    G

[Verse]
    CHer honeyed lips, I was beguiled, a lamb led to the slaughter
                                                       GEventually I fell asleep in the arms of the merchant's daughter
     CWhen I awoke I was alone, my clothes and pistols taken
                                                          GWith just the leaves to hide my shame beside the banks of Avon

[Verse]
   CIn vain I tried to catch a glimpse of the city spires
                                                 GRunning like a rabbit through the bushes and the briars
CThen I heard the London coach and I was all a-shiver
                                                GA lady's voice was calling out, "Stand-to and deliver!"

[Chorus]
C                                        FAll you roving fellows, listen while you can
C                                        FOf the time that I became a naked highwayman
     C                                        FCome all you roving fellows, listen while you can
C                                        FOf the time that I became a naked highwayman

[Verse]
      C"Your money or your life I'll have, it's all the same to me
                                                 GIt's hanged for a sheep or murder in the first degree"
    CShe stood there in my overcoat, brandishing my pistol
                                             GAnd relieved the London coach of the gold of Bristol

[Verse]
          CAnd she's up and mounted on my horse and rode into the distance
                                            GAnd I went naked to the coach begging for assistance
   CNo more I'll play the highwaymen, nor more I'll put the mask on
                                                             GI'll leave it to the bright-eyed girl who roams the banks of Avon

[Chorus]
C                                        FAll you roving fellows, listen while you can
C                                        FOf the time that I became a naked highwayman
     C                                        FCome all you roving fellows, listen while you can
C                                        FOf the time that I became a naked highwayman

[Instrumental]
F    Am    D    Am    G

[Verse]
   CAs I rode out one summer's day, for profit and for pleasure
                                                    GI planned to rob the London coach and take it at my leisure
  CA brace of pistols duly primed, a sabre fit to shave on
                                                      GI waited underneath the trees that lined the banks of Avon

[Outro]
G