‘Gibbet Wood’ is an original song written by Greg Harper about the true story of Sussex highwayman Jack Upperton, who robbed the mailman near the town of Arundel, West Sussex, in 1770. The song follows Jack's story to its gory conclusion.
The song was captured live at Purbeck Folk Club.
However don't despair! The historic story ends in this tranquil, beautiful, bluebell wood. A peaceful place to lay.
GIBBET WOOD
You ask my name, it’s Jack sir
And brothers I have one
We’re paupers from the country
And money we have none
I don’t say we was right sir
To do what we done
To rob the coach at Blakehurst
To rob the mail and run
They say that there’s no honour
Honour amongst thieves
But of the two, there’s one sir
Waiting beneath the eaves
Waiting for the gallows
To do what must be done
But still there’s no names rollin’
Rollin’ off my tongue
For two long years I hung there
Tarred, above the ground
My accomplice still rides free sir
Free, and unbowed
And me I lie in Gibbet Wood
Just off the Monarch’s Way
Under the trees in a bluebell wood
I still lie there today
You ask my name, it’s Jack sir
I ain’t proud of what I done