What’s the oldest song you’ve got?
What an interesting and open-ended question. I'll give a few answers. :)
Oldest Rogue song in English: "Since Laws Were Made" (1580 or earlier)
I am cheating with this one (how on brand), the lyrics are from 1728, but the melody is 16th century, and it's none other than Greensleeves. The first broadside of Greensleeves appeared in 1580, and it may be earlier - though it wasn't really written by Henry VIII. The song in this form, which I adore, is from the play The Beggar's Opera by John Gay. In this scene, the highwayman Macheath sits tight in Newgate Prison, sentenced to hang on Tyburn Tree, and wonders why the laws don't apply to the rich as they apply to him, and what would happen if they did.
Since laws were made for ev'ry degree, To cure vice in others, as well as me, I wonder I han't better company Upon Tyburn Tree!
But gold from law can take out the sting; And if rich men like you were to swing, 'Twould thin the land such numbers to string Upon Tyburn Tree!
Oldest Rogue song in French: "Le Complaint de Mandrin" (1755 or later)
Louis Mandrin was a French smuggler who became something of a folk hero, since the laws he broke (and was eventually broken on the wheel for) were so warped and unpopular and just... bad, that they're considered a factor leading to the French Revolution. The song is traditional, but I'm not sure when excatly it was written. It's a lament for his execution told in first person. Full lyrics and translation here.
Nous étions vingt ou trente Brigands dans une bande, Tous habillés de blanc A la mode des, vous m'entendez, Tous habillés de blanc A la mode des marchands.
La première volerie Que je fis dans ma vie, C'est d'avoir goupillé La bourse d'un, vous m'entendez, C'est d'avoir goupillé La bourse d'un curé.
Older Rogue song in Greek: "Constantine in prison" (18th century? idk)
This is undoubtedly NOT the oldest rogue song I got, but it's metal. I'm not posting the video here out of respect for your poor innocent ears. (let's call it an acquired taste, here it is for the curious.)
Locked up in prison, Constantine cuddled a little bird, but alas, he had not one crumb to feed it, to sustain it. He slices open his arm’s veins, sheds his own blood, and gifts it. “Drink, little bird, the brave man’s blood, eat, little bird, his liver, until your wings grow big and strong, until you fly again.
Oldest song: "Epitaph of Seikilos" (circa 200 BCE)
Όσον ζής φαίνου, μηδέν όλως σύ λύπου. Πρός ολίγον εστί τό ζήν, τό τέλος ό χρόνος απαιτεί.
While you live, shine, Have no grief at all. Life exists only for a short while, And time demands an end.
