> Steeleye Span > Songs > Gamble Gold (Robin Hood)

Gamble Gold / Robin Hood and the Pedlar

[ Roud 333 ; Child 132 ; Ballad Index C132 ; trad.]

Robin Hood and the Pedlar is a ballad from Ralph Vaughan Williams' and A.L. Lloyd's Penguin Book of English Folk Songs. Barry Dransfield sang it in 1972 on his eponymous Polydor album, Barry Dransfield.

Steeleye Span recorded this song as shortened version (8 of 15 verses) they called Gamble Gold (Robin Hood) on their best-selling album, All Around My Hat.

Lyrics

Steeleye Span sing Gamble Gold

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.

Chorus (after every other verse)

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!”

The 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!”

“Oh pedlar, pedlar what's thy name?
Come speedily and tell to me!”
“I'm Gamble Gold of the gay green woods,
I've travelled far beyond the sea.”

“If you're Gamble Gold of the gay green woods
Then my cousin you must be!
Let us away to a tavern near
And bottles crack most merrily.”