The Tale of Sawney Bean

This one is based on a old tale of folklore

1. Now here's a woeful story, to keep you from your bed, 

It concerns the occupants, of a cave at Bennane Head, 

A tale so grim and foul, it may haunt you ever-more,

It'll fill your dreams with images, of horror and of gore. 

2. The story goes that this occurred, way back in 16th century, 

And tells the tale of an evil clan, who's crimes they did intentionally, 

The patriarch of this group, his name was Sawney Bean, 

If you were to view his home, you'd wish it never seen.  

3. When he was young he'd tried, to live a stand-up life, 

Following in his father's footsteps, with it's poverty and it's strife, 

But a normal job was not for him, so wicked was his wrath,

He left the towns and villages, and became a pyschopath. 

4. When met a viscious woman, known as Agnes Douglas, 

Who already had a reputation, for being awful callous, 

She was known as evil witch, for years before they met, 

But once they got together, then the trap began to set. 

5. They took up home in spacious cavern, on the Firth of Clyde, 

Where they dwelt for many years, in darkness they did hide, 

And there unknown they grew in number, you may find this most contentious,

As over years the clan did grow, through behaviour most incestious.

6. They took up crime of evil nature, it's a shocking thing to tell,

Attacking folk as they passed by, and ate them where they fell,

Some parts that did remain, or so this story goes, 

Where pickled and preserved in jars, fingers, ribs and toes. 

7. They say that they're clan did bloom, perverse nature they did sate, 

As with bellys full of passers-by, they're number grew to forty-eight, 

And with this strength they began, attacking places in greater number, 

Horrid stories began to spread, waking King from his slumber. 

8. With many souls now missing, King James sent forth his men,  

To find out what was going on, within that foulest den, 

Upon arrival great fight was had, as the army pushed in further, 

Into that cave of wickedness, of Sawney Bean, the butcher. 

9. Deep within that darkened space, the horror most appauled,

When soldiers found the pickle jars, and limbs hung from the walls,

They realised that these awful folk, were all the most inbred, 

And they'd become cannibals, on so many had they fed. 

10. The one's that were arrested, as several had been killed, 

Were taken to a Tolbooth, in Edinburgh justice willed, 

The men where put to death, by removing hands and feet, 

And the women of the clan, died on fire of awesome heat. 

11. Even as their justice told, they laughed and swore foul things, 

Regretted not their actions, they spat at Scotland's King,

But those soldiers did not forget, just what they're eyes had seen, 

In the blood-soaked recess, of the Cavern of Sawney Bean.