Bonny Besses Lyrics

Voice - Mary Overton (Eddi Reader); Chorus - The Women of the City of London (Eddie Reader does not appear on the Live CD + DVD; there the Bonny Besses are Jube Walker, Jordan Whyte, Jo Dereza, Charlotte Bennett with Jane Anderson, Kirstie Newton and Jane Deady)

So at five in the morning with William Walwyn,
They dragged Honest John to the Tower.
With Thomas Prince and Richard Overton
They dragged Honest John to the Tower.
Once more high treason was the given reason,
When they dragged Honest John to the Tower.
And the women of the city rose up in disgust and pity
When they dragged Honest John to the Tower.
And the street threw up this b***** cry...

Chorus:
We are the Bonny Besses in the sea-green dresses,
And we spit on your abuse of this power.
And we say "Free Honest John from the Tower".
And Parliament said, "Women go tidy your beds!"
When they dragged Honest John to the Tower.
And Parliament said, "Some things are above Women's heads!"
When they dragged Honest John to the Tower.
And the street threw up this b***** cry...
Chorus

Forty Thousand names wanted to break those chains,
Of our four friends there in the Tower.
Forty Thousand names wanted to break those chains
When they dragged Honest John to the Tower.
And the street threw up this b***** cry...

Chorus