The Naked Highwayman chords by Fairport Convention

Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)

Difficulty: Novice

Intro:
C   G  C   G

Verse:
  C
As I rode out one summer's day, for profit and for pleasure
                          G
I planned to rob the London coach and take it at my leisure
 C
A brace of pistols duly primed, a sabre fit to shave on
                           G
I waited underneath the trees that lined the banks of Avon

Verse:
 C
I didn't hear her dainty step, as she appeared before me
                           G
A face to charm a singing bird, with words that did implore me
 C
"Can you help me sir?" she said, "I fear the time is near run
                          G
For me to cross before the tide swells the banks of Avon"

Chorus:
C                    F
All you roving fellows, listen while you can
C                    F
Of the time that I became a naked highwayman
   C                    F
Come all you roving fellows, listen while you can
C                    F
Of the time that I became a naked highwayman

Verse:
  C
So gallantly I did dismount and walked into the water
                         G
As she told me that she was a wealthy merchant's daughter
C
So I thought I'd try my luck and do my best to charm her
                   G
Said I was the only son of a country farmer

Verse:
   C
"Your hands they are as smooth as silk, they never touched a plough, sir
                         G
I suppose those pistols help you milking of your cows"
  C
She looked at me with mocking eyes, as coal-black as a raven
                          G
And then she fell into my arms beside the banks of Avon

Chorus:
C                    F
All you roving fellows, listen while you can
C                    F
Of the time that I became a naked highwayman
   C                    F
Come all you roving fellows, listen while you can
C                    F
Of the time that I became a naked highwayman

Instrumental:
F  Am  D  Am  G

Verse:
  C
Her honeyed lips, I was beguiled, a lamb led to the slaughter
                            G
Eventually I fell asleep in the arms of the merchant's daughter
   C
When I awoke I was alone, my clothes and pistols taken
                             G
With just the leaves to hide my shame beside the banks of Avon

Verse:
  C
In vain I tried to catch a glimpse of the city spires
                         G
Running like a rabbit through the bushes and the briars
C
Then I heard the London coach and I was all a-shiver
                        G
A lady's voice was calling out, "Stand-to and deliver!"

Chorus:
C                    F
All you roving fellows, listen while you can
C                    F
Of the time that I became a naked highwayman
   C                    F
Come all you roving fellows, listen while you can
C                    F
Of the time that I became a naked highwayman

Verse:
   C
"Your money or your life I'll have, it's all the same to me
                         G
It's hanged for a sheep or murder in the first degree"
  C
She stood there in my overcoat, brandishing my pistol
                       G
And relieved the London coach of the gold of Bristol

Verse:
     C
And she's up and mounted on my horse and rode into the distance
                      G
And I went naked to the coach begging for assistance
  C
No more I'll play the highwaymen, nor more I'll put the mask on
                               G
I'll leave it to the bright-eyed girl who roams the banks of Avon

Chorus:
C                    F
All you roving fellows, listen while you can
C                    F
Of the time that I became a naked highwayman
   C                    F
Come all you roving fellows, listen while you can
C                    F
Of the time that I became a naked highwayman

Instrumental:
F  Am  D  Am  G

Verse:
  C
As I rode out one summer's day, for profit and for pleasure
                          G
I planned to rob the London coach and take it at my leisure
 C
A brace of pistols duly primed, a sabre fit to shave on
                           G
I waited underneath the trees that lined the banks of Avon

Outro:
G