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Come, Come My Friends
John Barleycorn
The Bird in the Bush
The Three Ravens
Fair Maid of Australia
Winter Man (Chris Leslie)
New Year (Jehanne Mehta)
The Month of January
Cupid's Garden
The Brokendown Gentleman
Love in June
Lymington Round & Round
The Spotted Cow
Washing Day
George Collins
The Rolling of The Stones
Here is My Home (Si Kahn)

CD now available on Fallen Angle Music

The Brokendown Gentleman
Ian - English Concertina
James - Cittern, Fiddle & Fretless Bass

This story of the profligate life of a rural gentleman
was collected from George Blake of St. Denys,
Southampton, Hampshire by George Gardiner. It is
known in other collections as “Epsom Races”. Blake
was a major supplier of songs to Gardiner, who also
collected from his brother, Moses, of Emery Down
and his son-in-law, Henry Stansbridge, of Lyndhurst.
I once thought I would learn all the songs from this
family, but it proved to be too great a task -
maybe one day!

The Song

When I was young & in my youth, 'bout twenty four years old,
I spent my time in vanity, along with a lady so bold.
Along with a lady so bold.

I wore the ruffles all at my wrist, a cane all in my hand,
No farmer's son could with me compare, all over the nation so grand.

I kept a pack of hounds, my boys, & servants to wait on me.
For I did intend my money to spend, & that you may plainly see.

I kept a coach & six bay horses with hangers all round about,
With a golden tassel on each horses head, just ready for me to ride out.

I steered my course to Epsom boys, horse racing for to see.
'Twas there I spend 10,000 pounds, all in the light of one day.

I steered my course back home again, my purse it did run small,
And I was a brokendown gentleman, & that was the worst of it all.

My Landlord he came for the rent, of bailiffs there came three.
They took away all that I had & swore that they would have me.

The rogues & thieves around me came, from them I could not run.
They took away my coach & six, and I was quite undone.

My wife she sorrowfully pitied my case, my children round me cried.
To think that now in jail I'll lie, until the day that I die.