Twas in the Royal Town of Rye, on a night dreadful and cold
James Lamb the Mayor unlocked his door and walked out all alone
His son he had invited him his ship to come aboard
But the mayor would rather stay at home all as the thunder roared

He saw a man out in the street, and recognized his face
And asked this man, his wife’s brother, to go all in his place
Why yes dear Lamb I’ll go for you, the fateful words he said
If ‘n you will lend to me your cloak that is blood red

Breeds the Butcher sat alone, a-sharpenin’ his knife
For he knew James Lamb the mayor went on the ship that night
Lamb had fined the butcher Breeds for serving measures short
And in revenge Breeds swore to kill the mayor of the Cinque Port

It was just behind St.Mary’s Church, close by the Ypres Tower
He hid himself behind a grave until the fateful hour
He recognized the blood red coat just as it passed him by
Out came Breeds and stabbed his foe with his butcher knife

Now all things being silent, Lamb dreamed an awful dream
His dead wife’s spirit came to him to warn him as it seemed
(The) second time she came that night, he saw a ghostly light
She said “Go find my brother dear, for Murder walks tonight”

Three times she appeared to him, her husband in his bed
And on the third he rose to find the poor ghost’s brother dead
The knife was found upon a grave by some brave local man
And Breeds still drunk upon the town sang “Butchers should kill lambs”

He got no mercy at the trial, the judge he was no friend
For it was the same James Lamb whose life he’d meant to end
The murderer, he was hanged beneath the Strand Gate Arch
His body put into a cage and hanged upon the marsh

They put his skull in Rye Town Hall, and there it is today
“Killed by a sanguinary butcher” writ upon a grave
So, come all ye who seek revenge and look upon John Breeds
Who murdered one he never knew and was hung by his enemy