All was black outside the inn

As night winds howled in pain

And rattled at the chimney pots

And whistled through the grate

 

Inside the inn all shut up tight

The fire had burned down low

And huddled by the candlelight

A few lost souls had yet to go

 

The night was foul, rain beat down

The wind lifted the eaves

It was a long walk into town

And none were keen to leave

 

Behind the bar there stood a girl

A young and handsome lass

From her face she flicked a curl

And filled another glass

 

Across the sawdust floor she skipped

Towards a table cast in gloom

A group sat silent as a crypt

Hooded men that seemed to loom

 

Unseen hands grabbed her wrist

Her young heart filled with fright

‘Take care my girl,’ the voices hissed

‘For danger rides abroad tonight!’

 

Her fragile frame at last released

The girl ran quickly from the scene

Heart’s frantic beating not yet ceased

She wondered what the words could mean

 

Back at the bar she sought to keep

Her hands and mind alive with work

No longer could she think of sleep

Now in the inn such strangers lurked

 

Both bright of eye and fair of skin

Molly Anne the young girl’s name

Her days spent toiling at the inn

But in her sleep she dreamt of fame

 

Sweet Molly Anne a secret kept

Around her neck a golden charm

Her fingers now towards it crept

If it were there she’d fear no harm

 

Thankfully she clasped the token

She’s been given at the fair

When some sweet words had been spoken

Promises of love and care

 

From a young man tall and true

She knew that she had found the one

Though her kin told all they knew

About the town’s most wayward son

 

For Molly Anne there was no other

To her sweet William she was true

Her first and one and only lover

For William she would die she knew

 

But William was not loved by all

He could be cruel; he stole and fought

But when she heard her love’s sweet call

For stories Molly Anne cared nought

 

There came a knock upon the door

That startled all still at the inn

The keeper shuffled across the floor

Summoned by unearthly din

 

The noise stopped as the bolts drew back

A flash of lightning rent the air

And as that flash cut through the black

They saw a figure standing there

 

The frozen stranger pushed his way

Past the keeper of the inn

The customers all heard him say

‘Fetch me a glass and a bottle of gin.’

 

Young Molly Anne’s pale hands still shook

As she followed his command

From her he the bottle took

And then he clasped her trembling hand

 

'Know you not your own true love?'

The stranger’s voice was kind and sweet

'For I know you my turtle dove,

I said that soon again we’d meet.'

 

With that the man threw back his hood

It was the man whom she did love

She ran to where Sweet William stood

And held him tightly as she could

 

'My love,' she cried and wept a tear,

'I thought I’d see you not

There is danger for you here

The Revenue would see you shot.'

 

'Fear not sweet Molly Anne,' he said

'I shall not stay too long,

As there’s a price upon my head

And for gold rats will sing fine songs!'

 

The silence of the inn was broke

The group of shadowy men now stood

Throwing back both hood and cloak

Their tunics were as red as blood

 

Six pistols soon were pointed straight

William’s heart was in their sights

But Molly Anne felt love too great

To see Sweet William lose his fight

 

William too reached for his gun

But Molly Anne could bear no more

Urging her sweet love to run

Until their love could be restored

 

The captain bade his men to fire

Powder flashed and muzzles blazed

For Sweet William things looked dire

And Molly Anne with love was crazed

 

She threw herself into the fray

A bullet broke her love struck heart

She and William died that day

And now they’d never be apart