Raggle-taggle Lad
Ashley Hutchings and Ken Nicol Lyrics

It was the coldest yule for 93 years
No sign to show thay spring was round the corner
Barges were frozen and stuck within weirs
And the concrete earth no comfort for a mourner

He blew on his hands and stamped both his feet
He stood on the path with his horse behind
Not really a gypsy by the cut of his coat
But certainty one of the travelling kind
I felt not a threat so I motioned him in
Poured him a drink and pulled up a fine chair
Warm were his hands by the fireside glow
Warm was his smile as he talked to me there

We sat by the fireside shadows grew long
He told me his tales of a travelling life
Twice round these islands and a half round the world
And all without children companion or wife

I hung on his words every tale every song
Many were the logs burned in to the night
I thought not of bed and the dreams it would bring
For all I could feel were his eyes burning bright

When daylight appeared and the fire had died
He rose from his chair and motioned to leave
I knew I had fallen quite under his spell
And wanted to grab fast a hold of his sleeve

In legend and song I would leave all behind
And jump in the back of his horse and away
But I was rooted to the floor and I made not a move
For a civilised life that's the price that you pay

If a raggle taggle lad came in to your life
Would you jump on his horse behind him oh?
Or would you nod politely and wish them both well
Let him go where you never could find him oh

It was the coldest yule in 93 years
No sign to show that spring was round the corner
Barges were frozen and stuck within weirs
And a lonely life just grew a little colder