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Another from the singing of Sam Larner. Some resources say this was written by Thomas Cory and John Davy in 1806. Others say it was a traditional song. Versions of it can be found on broadsides in the Bodleian Library. Wherever it came from, it’s an incredibly concise tale with a huge tune - one of those that I’m surprised other people have overlooked. I’ve since found ‘Will Watch: the Sequel’, in which his wife dies [Roud V6814]. I’ll save that for the next album.

lyrics

One morn when the wind
From the northward blew keenly,
When sullen roared
The big waves on the main,
A famed smuggler, Will Watch,
Kissed his Susan serenely
Took helm, and to sea
Boldly steered out again.
Will had promised his Sue
That this trip, if well ended,
Should coil up his ropes,
And he'd anchor on shore;
When his pockets were lined,
Why his life should be ended,
The laws he had broke
He would never break more.

His sea-boat was trim
Made her port, took her loading,
Then Will stood to sea,
Reached the offing, and cried,
”This night, if I've luck,
Furls the sails of my trading.
In dock I can lay -
Serve a friend or two besides.”
We lay to ‘til night
Came on darksome and dreary,
To crowd every sail
Then he piped up all hands;
But a signal soon spied -
'Twas a prospect uncheerly,
'Twas a signal that warned him
To beat from the land.

“The Philistians are out”,
Cries Will, “we'll take no heed on't,
Attacked, who's the man
That will flinch from his gun?
Should my head be blown off
I shall ne'er feel the need on't,
We'll fight while we can;
When we can't, boys, we'll run.”
Through the haze of the night
A bright flash now appearing,
“Oh ho!” cried Will Watch,
”The Philistians bear down.
Bear a hand, my tight lads,
Ere we think about sheering.
Our broadside poured in;
Should we swim, boys, or drown?”

“But should I be popped off,
You, my mates left behind me,
Pay regard of my last words,
See 'em kindly obeyed.
Let no stone mark the spot,
And, my friends, do you mind me,
Near the beach with this grave
Where Will Watch should be laid.”
Poor Will's yarn was spun up -
For a bullet next minute
Laid him low on the deck
And he never rose more.
The crew fought the brig
While a shot remained in him,
Then sheered, and Will's hulk
To his Susan they bore.

In the dead of the night
His last wish was complied with,
To few known his grave
And to few known his end;
He was borne to the earth
By the crew that he died with;
He'd the tears of his Susan,
The prayers of his men.
Near his grave dash the billow,
That wild low last billow,
Yon ash struck with lightning
That marked his cold bed.
Will Watch, the bold smuggler,
That famed lawless fellow -
Once feared, now forgot -
Sleep in peace with the dead.

credits

from Before I Knew What Had Begun I Had Already Lost, released May 5, 2023
Trad, arr Wilks. Roud 1617
Produced by Jon Wilks
Mastered by Nick Cooke

Jon Wilks - acoustic guitar, electric guitars, bass, Hammond organ, programming, cittern, vocals

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Jon Wilks Whitchurch, UK

'The sort of performer folk circles mean when they talk of the living tradition' - Mike Davies, Folking.com

“One of the best of the New Wave of Folk Blokes. As a guitar player and arranger of traditional songs, Jon Wilks already deserves speaking of in the same breath as your Simpsons and your Morays.” – Ian A. Anderson, fRoots Mag ... more

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