THE LEGEND OF COCKAHOOF

The legend of Cockahoof




COCK A HOOF

Balfe the robber was a gentleman so the story goes
A highway man from Ballyknockan in the finest clothes
He shod his horse in reverse  to cover up his trail
So they called him  "Cock a Hoof" and a legend he became

One evening at a house dance in the village of the stone
He danced a jig, excused himself, left the house alone
He made his way by horseback to the borders of Carlow
where he went to rob and steal like many times before

THUNDER BOLT AND LIGHTNING A HIGHWAYMAN RIDES BY
COCK A HOOF COCK A HOOF WHERE DOES YOUR FORTUNE LIE?

He came upon a manor house in the black of night
Where all the doors and windows were locked and sealed so tight
He climbed upon a ladder  and smashed a pane of glass
And demanded to the lady for all her gold to pass

She went to hand it over and took his arm down on the glass
He fell back from the window and lay wounded on the grass
He wrapped a scarf around his arm and rode into the night
And back to Ballyknockan before the morning light

THUNDER BOLT AND LIGHTNING A HIGHWAYMAN RIDES BY
COCK A HOOF COCK A HOOF WHERE DOES YOUR FORTUNE LIE?


The lady from the manor called the forces of the crown
And then there were rumours heard around the town
The law closed in on Balfe at an ambush at Woodend
where he was arrested to the jail house he was sent


They saw the wound on his arm and there they had the proof
They sentenced him to hang and that was the end for Cock a Hoof
On his way to the gallows he declared he hid his gold
Whoever found his bank would never want again he told

THUNDER BOLT AND LIGHTNING A HIGHWAYMAN RIDES BY
COCK A HOOF COCK A HOOF WHERE DOES YOUR FORTUNE LIE?