Regulator (T. Spagnardi)

Merchants and lawyers with their money and such
Buying up the land, paying off the judge
The crops done failed so I had to buy some meal
All to glad to sell it, glad to make a deal
Fancy words that bind ain’t so very kind
Corn ain’t the only thing rotten in the fields

Quakers and Moravians they tell me that I’m free
I can talk to God and He’ll listen down on me
Them double dip kickback taxes that I pay
Built the governor’s palace so the Regulators say
Well I’m sitting here with God and God is telling me
Ain’t no east coast lawyer gonna regulate me

Sheriff took our taxes now he’s coming back again
Field’s gone dry, children’s gone thin
Asked for credit from the store, but I couldn’t never pay
So they sent me to the judge, gonna take it all away
Herman Husband and the Regulators marching into Hillsborough
Breaking glass, kicking ass, burn it all away

Grabbed Fanning by the heels and we drug him down the stairs
Drunk up all his liquor, threw down all his chairs
Out the window to the front lawn and set it all on fire
Then we carried those flames down to Henderson’s barn
Well we burned it to the ground and the flames flickered free
Ain’t no redcoat governor gonna regulate me

Well we took ‘em all to court for abusing free men
But the judges didn’t show and the governor stepped in
Marched the troops out from New Bern down to Alamance County
They gave an ultimatum, we commenced to shouting
Fire and be damned, we yelled, then they shot, Thompson fell
We hid behind the rocks, but the cannons blew us all to hell

Running through the briers and the brambles and the trees
Quaking in my boots, fall down to my knees
Well they hung six men, that’s the price you gotta pay
Still I prayed to my God let me fight another day
Washington and Jefferson and Adams all agree
Ain’t no redcoat governor gonna regulate me