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Turpin Hero
Last updated: 11.10.23
"Turpin Hero" is a fine ballad that I learned from Brian Kelly. It is about the renowned English highwayman Dick Turpin and his audacious deeds leading up to his eventual execution.
I've used italics because Richard Kopp has a version on his site ("Bold Turpin Hero") whereby the Irish have pinched the complete story including the nationality of Turpin himself!
Another version of this song is explained in detail at John Roberts and Tony Barrand's interesting site on "Lincolnshire Folksongs collected by Percy Grainger".
Brian's version, where ever he learned only the Lord knows, as he sung it in the Idle Fellows has eight fine verses and he sang in the key of F. There is a very similar six-verse version in the key of G which can be found in Geoffrey Brace's Something to Sing.
     Performer CD Title Supplier
       
cd15.gif Roy Harris The Bitter and the Sweet CD(s) & MP3 Album(s) flag15uk.gif 
cd15.gif Ewan MacColl Chorus From the Gallows CD(s) & MP3 Album(s) flag15us.gif flag15uk.gif flag15de.gif flag15fr.gif flag15ca.gif
cd15.gif Various Artists Bold Sportsmen All CD(s) & MP3 Album(s) flag15us.gif flag15uk.gif flag15de.gif flag15fr.gif flag15ca.gif flag15it.gif flag15es.gif
cd15.gif Roberts and Barrand Heartoutbursts CD(s) & MP3 Album(s) flag15us.gif flag15uk.gif flag15de.gif flag15fr.gif flag15ca.gif flag15it.gif flag15es.gif
     Title Performer Composer
       
youtube15.jpg Turpin Hero (2:42) Ewan MacColl