This song was originally a poem by Alfred Noyes. Loreena McKennitt did a wonderful job of putting the poem to music; she only left out like two verses. I think this is my favorite L.M. song - I cried the first time I heard it. I can't help but feel angry at the highwayman - Bess killed herself so that he could live, but then he just goes and gets himself killed in a moment of rage anyway! It's so tragic! I wonder if there's any truth to Noyes' story.
This song was originally a poem by Alfred Noyes. Loreena McKennitt did a wonderful job of putting the poem to music; she only left out like two verses. I think this is my favorite L.M. song - I cried the first time I heard it. I can't help but feel angry at the highwayman - Bess killed herself so that he could live, but then he just goes and gets himself killed in a moment of rage anyway! It's so tragic! I wonder if there's any truth to Noyes' story.