Tag Archives: song

Lyrics by Robert Stephen Hawker (1804–1875)

A good sword and a trusty hand,

A merry heart and true!

King James’s men shall understand

What Cornish lads can do.

And have they fixed the where and when?

And shall Trelawny die?

Here’s twenty thousand Cornish men

Will know the reason why!

And shall Trelawney live?

Or shall Trelawney die?

Here’s twenty thousand Cornish men

Will know the reason why!

Out spake their Captain brave and bold:

A merry wight was he:

“If London Tower were Michael’s hold,

We’ll set Trelawney free!

We’ll cross the Tamar, land to land,

The Severn is no stay:

With ‘one and all’, and hand in hand,

And who shall bid us nay?”

And shall Trelawney live?

Or shall Trelawney die?

Here’s twenty thousand Cornish men

Will know the reason why!

“And when we come to London Wall,

A pleasent sight to view,

Come forth! come forth ye cowards all,

Here’s men as good as you!

Trelawney he’s in keep and hold:

Trelawney he may die:

But twenty thousand Cornish bold

Will know the reason why!”

And shall Trelawney live?

Or shall Trelawney die?

Here’s twenty thousand Cornish men

Will know the reason why!