> Martin Carthy > Songs > Box on Her Head

Box on Her Head

[ Roud 289 ; Laws L3 ; Ballad Index LL03 ; trad.]

Martin Carthy sang Box on Her Head in 1966 on his Second Album. He commented in the album's sleeve notes:

As the treacherous girl is regarded with the utmost hatred, so is the resourceful girl regarded with the greatest admiration. Having shot the young man who has tried to rob her, she then helps a gentleman who has heard the noise to shoot the rest of the robbers who are in hiding nearby chalking up three to his one. The version here is basically from the Lucy Broadwood collection.

Lyrics

There was a fine young damsel that in London town did dwell
For wit and for beauty there was none could her excel
She took her box all on her head and so she travelled along
And the first one that she met with was a strolling naval man

He says, Me pretty fair maid why do you go this way?
I'll show you a quicker road across the country
He's taken her by the lily-white hand and he's led her down the lane
But he turned and said, Deliver your gold or else your life I'll have

While this young feller was a-feeling for his knife
She stole his pistol from his belt and she took away his life
She took her box all on her head and so she travelled along
And the next one that she met with was a noble gentleman

Oh he says, Me pretty fair maid where are you going so late?
And what was the noise that I heard be yonder gate?
That box you carry upon your head it doesn't to you belong
To your master or your misteress oh you have done something wrong

Me master or me misteress I have done something new
But I feel it in me own heart that the man that I have killed
She took his horse by the bridle rein and she led him to the place
Where this bold young robber lay a-bleeding on his face

The gentleman knelt down for to see what he had got
He'd two loaded pistols some powder and some shot
He'd two loaded pistols some powder and some ball
A knife and a whistle his comrades for to call

He put the whistle to his lips and he blew both loud and shrill
And four more bold young robbers came a-running o'er the hill
The gentleman he shot one of them and that right speedily
And this beautiful young damsel she shot the other three

Acknowledgements

Transcribed by Garry Gillard.