Martin Carthy - John Parfit lyrics

Parfit went out one cold dark night Walking the Yorkshire woods all round Thinking to find some game to eat Along the frosted ground He heard the pheasant in the trees Innocent to the wild owl call Come the keeper's stealthy tread His mean heart wrapped in gall The Duke of Norfolk's game keeper Out to the woodland come Protecting life, so it be k**ed On a sporting day for fun He give chase to John Parfit All in the lonely copse that night Struggling beneath the bare branched trees In the foxes' silent sight A shot was fired and, sad to tell, Laid John Parfit on the ground For a moment's rage and carelessness Precious blood flowed down In the light of dawn Brown leaves on mossy ground On a woodland place where d**h has come Golden sun shown down The game keeper was told go free For it was said that there was no crime That a man was k**ed and stupidly Nobody seemed to mind The world's a tattered and rusty place Drowning memories of countless men Guardians guard by earthly fence But who will guard the guardians?