"The Three Butchers", "Bold Johnson", "Dixon and Johnson" or "Johnson-Jinkson" (

Roud The Roud Folk Song Index is a database of around 250,000 references to nearly 25,000 songs collected from oral tradition in the English language from all over the world. It is compiled by Steve Roud (born 1949), a former librarian in the London ...

# 17;

Laws Law is a set of rules that are created and are law enforcement, enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. ...

L4) is a traditional English folk ballad telling the story of how two or three butchers defeat seven or more robbers. There are a large number of versions of the song going by a variety of different titles.http://www.lizlyle.lofgrens.org/RmOlSngs/RTOS-Johnson.html Old Songs: Johnson-Jinkson

Synopsis

Two or three butchers, variously name Johnson, Dixon, Jinkson, Jackson, Dickie amongst others, are travelling on horseback when they see a naked woman tied up by the side of the road. They give her a coat and put her on one of their horses but it turns out that she is the bait for a band of robbers and she gives the signal that the trap has worked. The brigands spring out of their hiding place and set on her would-be rescuers. One of the butchers wants to run away but the other elects to fight and proceeds to kill all but one of the highwaymen, who runs away. The woman then kills this butcher by stabbing him in the back.

Commentary

Originally printed as a

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in England in the 17th century by Paul Burges, the ballad made its way to

America The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

where it was collected by Randolph in ''Ozark Folksongs'' amongst others. It was recorded by Charles Lafayette Todd and

Robert Sonkin Robert Sonkin (1910–1980) was an American scholar of speech, language, and music. Life Sonkin was born into an Orthodox Jewish family in the Bronx, New York, on December 25, 1910. Sonkin, who held degrees from City College (CCNY) (now the Ci ...

for the

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Recordings

Pete Seeger Peter Seeger (May 3, 1919 – January 27, 2014) was an American folk singer and social activist. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, Seeger also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of the Weavers, notably ...

recorded the song on his album ''American Ballads'' (1957) *

Peggy Seeger Margaret "Peggy" Seeger (born June 17, 1935) is an American Folk music, folk singer. She has lived in Britain for more than 60 years, and was married to the singer and songwriter Ewan MacColl until his death in 1989. First American period Seeg ...

included it on her album ''Folksongs and Ballads'' (1958) *

Roy Bailey (folk singer) Roy Bailey, (20 October 1935 – 20 November 2018) was an English socialist folk singer. Colin Irwin (journalist), Colin Irwin from the music magazine ''Mojo (magazine), Mojo'' said Bailey represented "the very soul of folk's working class Id ...

recorded the song accompanied by Martin Carthy on guitar and Peter Knight on mandolin on the album ''Roy Bailey'' (1971) on the Trailer label (LER 3021). *

Gryphon The griffin, griffon, or gryphon (Ancient Greek: , ''gryps''; Classical Latin: ''grȳps'' or ''grȳpus''; Late and Medieval Latin: ''gryphes'', ''grypho'' etc.; Old French: ''griffon'') is a legendary creature with the body, tail, and back ...

recorded the song for their self-titled debut album

(1973) *

Steeleye Span Steeleye Span are a British folk rock band formed in 1969 in England by Fairport Convention bass player Ashley Hutchings and established London folk club duo Tim Hart and Maddy Prior. The band were part of the 1970s British folk revival, and we ...

recorded it as "Two Butchers" for

Tempted and Tried ''Tempted and Tried'' is the 13th studio album by British folk rock band Steeleye Span. The album was recorded after a three-year hiatus after the release of ''Back in Line''. After releasing ten albums in fairly rapid succession during the ...

(1989)

Lyrics

Since this is a traditional folk song, the lyrics differ. However, in the modern era, the lyrics of the Gryphon and Roy Bailey versions of the song are very similar to the text below: It's of three jolly butchers as I've heard many say: They were going to some market town their money for to pay. They rode together for a mile or two and a little more besides, Said Johnson unto Jipson "Stop I heard a woman cry". "Then stop I won't" said Jipson, "And stop I won't" said Ryde. "Then stop I will" said Johnson, "For I heard a woman cry". So Johnson he alighted and viewed the place around, And saw a naked woman with her hair tied to the ground. "How came you here?" said Johnson, "How came you here?" said he. "Two highway men have robbed me that you can plainly see". Then Johnson being a valiant man a man of courage bold, He took the coat from off his back to keep her from the cold. Then Johnson being a valiant man a man of valiant mind, He sat her up upon his horse and mounted up behind, And as they rode along the road as fast as they could ride. She put her fingers to her lips and gave three piercing cries. Out sprang ten bold highwaymen with weapons in their hands. They strode up to young Johnson and boldly bid him stand. "Stand I will" said Johnson "as long as ever I can. For I was never in all my life afraid of any man". Then Johnson being a valiant man he made those bullets fly, 'Til nine of them bold highwaymen all on the ground did lie. This wicked woman standing by young Johnson did not mind, She took a knife all from his side and stabbed him from behind. This day it being a market day and people passing by, They saw this woman's dreadful deed and raised a hue and cry. Then she was down to Newgate brought and bound in irons strong, For killing the finest butcher as ever the sun shone on.

References

External links

1940 Johnson-Jinkson recording by Troy Cambron at Library of Congress
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Three Butchers, The Traditional ballads English folk songs Year of song unknown