They're Hanging Him For Paying His Taxes

Words: Mikal Hrafspa (Mikal the Ram)
Music: Nancy Hogan's Goose (The Rose Tree)
MIDI / NWC / PDF
Notes from Mikal:
This was written to the tune "Nancy Hogan's Goose", and is one of the few filks I am guilty of....
The shires held an event that protested the excessive taxes of the kingdom. (as I recall, the tax was five cookies each!) I love getting a chance to poke fun at the crown. I stole the tune from the Irish song "Nancy Hogan's Goose." stealing seemed appropriate during tax time...

Come gather all ye fellows
And lift a cup to memory
Of a common working fellow
Much the same as you and me
He was a simple goose-herd
A poor but happy working man
When the King's guard came to see him
To gather taxes in this land

They've got him in the dungeon
They say in duty he's been lax
Oh, they're going to hang the goose-herd
Because he tried to pay his tax

When the guards came calling
The goose-herd said he'd try to pay
But he hadn't any money
To send off in the usual way
So he went out to his goose-pens
To choose the finest of his herd
And he told the waiting guardsmen
He'd like to give the King the bird

They've got him in the dungeon
They say in duty he's been lax
Oh, they're going to hang the goose-herd
Because he tried to pay his tax

Oh the captain's face was livid
"You cannot speak so of the king"
So they took him to the Baron
To have a Peer explain the thing
But the goose-herd was determined
He was a man true to his word
"If I cannot pay in money
Then I shall give the King the bird"

They've got him in the dungeon
They say in duty he's been lax
Oh, they're going to hang the goose-herd
Because he tried to pay his tax

Oh the Baron took to shouting
"A court of nobles should convene
To keep this peasant quiet
And keep such rabble from our king"
So they gathered all the peerage
But still the man would not be swerved
"If I cannot pay my taxes
Then I should give the King the bird"

They've got him in the dungeon
They say in duty he's been lax
Oh, they're going to hang the goose-herd
Because he tried to pay his tax

They were ready for a lynching
When in the King's own herald came
He cried out he had the answer
Keep silence in the King's own name
He approached the goose-herd kindly
"You see you poorly chose your words
It is not the proper etiquette
To try to give the King the bird"

Then the goose-herd seemed to brighten
As if a light came to his head
"If I cannot give the king the bird
I'll give the queen a goose instead"

Oh you know they hung that goose-herd
They said in duty he was lax
Yes, you know they hung that goose-herd
Because he tried to pay his tax

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