John Blunt - Martin Carthy

There was an old couple lived under the hill,
Blunt it was their name-o,
They had good beer and ale for to sell,
And it bore a wonderful fame-o.

John Blunt and his wife they drank of the drink,
Till they could drink no more-o,
They both got tired and they went up to bed,
And forgot to bar the door-o.

So they a bargain bargain made,
Made it strong and sure-o,
The first of them who should speak the first word,
Should get up and bar the door-o.

So there came travellers travellers three,
Travelling in the night-o,
No house no home nor fire had they,
Nor yet no candle light-o.

They went to his cellar they drank up his drink,
Until they could drink no more-o,
But never a word did the old couple speak,
For fear who should bar the door-o.

They went to his larder they ate up his food,
Till they could eat no more-o,
But never a word did the old couple speak,
For fear who should bar the door-o.

They went up stairs they went to his room,
They broke down the door-o,
But never a word did the old couple speak,
For fear who should bar the door-o.

They hauled his wife all out of the bed,
Laid her out on the floor-o,
Then up got poor john blunt in his bed,
For he could stand no more-o.

Says: "You've eaten me food you've drunk all me drink,
Laid me wife on the floor-o,"
"You spoke the first word John Blunt she says,
So go down and bar the door-o."