bless me father I have sinned
bless me if you may
by the power of jesus christ
Come to me this day
I am just a middle farmer's boy
Jim wilson is my name
and I've been out hard where devil runs
I'll never go again
well yes I know my duty sir
and I know the god I serve
I tried to stay out in the open line
I tried to keep my nerve
but all I could see were lily white arms
and a gold and silken dress
and all I could hear was a good old song
and a calling from the west
chorus:
well I wish I were back home in Bristol again
raising a cider with West Countrymen
rolling in the arms of the the fair Kitty Wrenne
back home in Bristol again
back home in Bristol again
seventeen days and seventeen nights
we held up underground
through misty panes and thick green light
I saw death raining down
and when it all was finished
I just turned away in fear
bless me father and and hold my hand
until the dawn is here
(chorus)
Drink up the cider, drink up the cider
For tonight we'll merry be
We'll knock the milkmaids over and [C]roll them in the clover
The corn's half cut and so beware.
I hear the party coming down
to wrest me from my cell
father don't you pray for me
or speak to me of hell
just deliver me a little song
and a final taste of rum
and tell the buggers who shoot me down
just where ol' jimmy's from
