He was born in Hatfield and grew up in Hampstead, London. After training as an actor he sang in coffee bars. He became a resident at the Troubador folk club in Earls Court in the late 1950s. He joined Redd Sullivan's Thameside Four in 1961. He is a renowned solo performer of traditional songs in a very distinctive style, accompanying himself on his trusty old Martin Guitar; his style is marked by the use of alternate tunings, and a strongly percussive picking style that emphasizes the melody. His debut album, Martin Carthy, was released in 1965, and also featured Dave Swarbrick playing fiddle on some tracks, although he was not mentioned in the album's sleeve notes.
He has also been involved with many musical collaborations. He has sung with The Watersons since 1972, was an early member of the UK folk rock group Steeleye Span, and was part of the innovative Brass Monkey ensemble, which mixed a range of brass instruments with Carthy's guitar and mandolin and John Kirkpatrick's accordion, melodeon and concertina.
For many years Carthy has enjoyed a creative partnership with fiddle player Dave Swarbrick. More recently, Waterson:Carthy has provided the forum for a successful partnership with partner Norma Waterson together with their daughter Eliza Carthy.
In June 1998 he was awarded the MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours. He was named Folk Singer of the Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2002, and again in 2005 when he also won the award for Best Traditional Track for 'Famous Flower of Serving Men'.
Three Jolly Sneaksmen
Martin Carthy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To rob and to plunder without any doubt
Coach and six come riding by
Stop stop coachman they all did cry
(Sing) Whack fol the day
Diddle ol the day
Whack fol the doll o
Three jolly sneaksmen they come to the coach
Three pretty fair maids there they did approach
Three pretty maids cries what shall we do
Give us all your money and we won't hurt you
(Sing) Whack fol the day
Diddle ol the day
Whack fol the doll o
Diddle ol the day
Five hundred pounds they have got in gold
Five hundred pounds such a sight to behold
Silver topped cane and a gold lace cap
Such a fine haul for the sneaksmen to snap
(Sing) Whack fol the day
Diddle ol the day
Whack fol the doll o
Diddle ol the day
Three jolly sneaksmen in Hyde Park Street
Three blue-coated gentlemen they happened for to meet
Tap em on the shoulder one two three
Three jolly sneaksmen come along a me
(Sing) Whack fol the day
Diddle ol the day
Whack fol the doll o
Diddle ol the day
Sizes and sessions are soon drawing near
Three jolly sneaksmen at the bar appear
Judge casts around with a rolling eye
Three jolly sneaksmen bound for to die
(Sing) Whack fol the day
Diddle ol the day
Whack fol the doll o
Diddle ol the day
Three jolly sneaksmen mount the gallows tree
Jack Ketch he come along just as soon as they
Took all their togs and their rhino too
Three jolly sneaksmen bid the world adieu
(Sing) Whack fol the day
Diddle ol the day
Whack fol the doll o
Diddle ol the day
Martin Carthy's "Three Jolly Sneaksmen" is a traditional English folk song that tells a story of three robbers who steal from passersby, but their successful run comes to an end when they are caught and sentenced to death. The song is structured into five stanzas, each describing a different event in the story. The first stanza introduces the three robbers and their modus operandi. They are carefree and bold, taking what they want without fear of moral or legal retribution. This stanza sets the tone for the rest of the song, conveying a sense of lawlessness and adventure.
In the second stanza, the three robbers come upon a coach with three pretty maids inside, and they demand their money. The maids are afraid, but they comply, handing over five hundred pounds in gold. The third stanza describes the robbers' loot, which includes a silver-topped cane and a gold lace cap. The stanza is a celebration of material excess, highlighting the robbers' ability to accumulate wealth through illegal means.
In the fourth stanza, the robbers are caught by three blue-coated gentlemen, and they are taken into custody. The final stanza takes place at their trial and execution. The judge casts a "rolling eye" over the three men, indicating a lack of sympathy or leniency, and sentences them to die. The song ends with the three jolly sneaksmen being hanged by Jack Ketch, a notorious English executioner.
Overall, "Three Jolly Sneaksmen" is a cautionary tale about the consequences of greed and lawlessness. The robbers start as adventurous villains but end up as pitiful criminals, their greed leading to their downfall. The song also touches on themes of justice and morality, emphasizing the importance of following the law and respecting social order.
Line by Line Meaning
Three jolly sneaksmen they all went out
Three merry burglars set out for a night of robbing and plundering
To rob and to plunder without any doubt
They had no hesitation in committing theft and looting
Coach and six come riding by
A coach drawn by six horses passed by
Stop stop coachman they all did cry
They yelled for the coachman to stop
Three jolly sneaksmen they come to the coach
The three happy robbers approached the coach
Three pretty fair maids there they did approach
They approached three young and attractive women
Three pretty maids cries what shall we do
The three women asked what they should do
Give us all your money and we won't hurt you
The robbers demanded money and promised not to harm them if they complied
Five hundred pounds they have got in gold
They successfully obtained 500 pounds worth of gold
Five hundred pounds such a sight to behold
The sight of all that gold was a breathtaking sight
Silver topped cane and a gold lace cap
They also obtained a fancy cane and a hat with a gold lace
Such a fine haul for the sneaksmen to snap
It was a great catch for the sneaky robbers
Three jolly sneaksmen in Hyde Park Street
The three merry robbers were in Hyde Park Street
Three blue-coated gentlemen they happened for to meet
They encountered three men in blue coats
Tap em on the shoulder one two three
They tapped each of the three men on the shoulder
Three jolly sneaksmen come along a me
The three robbers followed them
Sizes and sessions are soon drawing near
Their fate and trial date were quickly approaching
Three jolly sneaksmen at the bar appear
The three robbers appeared in court
Judge casts around with a rolling eye
The judge looked around with a suspicious eye
Three jolly sneaksmen bound for to die
The three robbers were sentenced to death
Three jolly sneaksmen mount the gallows tree
The three robbers were led to the gallows
Jack Ketch he come along just as soon as they
Jack Ketch, the executioner, arrived quickly
Took all their togs and their rhino too
They stripped the robbers of all their clothing and possessions
Three jolly sneaksmen bid the world adieu
The three robbers said goodbye to the world as they were hanged
Contributed by Austin M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Daniel
on Lovely Joan
Hello ! The lyrics here art alle wrong. An' it's got tae be a frog-eater a-tellin' thee....