Master Smith says to John

Lyrics

1
Master Smith says to John, ‘Do you know where we can find,
An old hare there is that will well please our mind?’
Oh, yes, oh, yes,’ said John, ‘let’s try yonder dell;
An old hare there is and I know she can run well.
Repeats:- And I know she can run well, and I know she can run well,
An old hare there is and I know she can run well.'

2
When Comely gives mouth I will have you all to mind,
We shall not be long e’er an old hare we will find.
She’s up, she’s up, she’s up and away, away, away,
When hounds they are in chase there’s no time to delay, etc.

3
No opening of gates, no breaking down of gaps,
When hounds they are in chase there’s no time to do that;
But over them we go, make the best of our way,
When hounds they are in chase there’s no time to delay, etc.

4
Master Woodman on his grey, he rides hard upto John,
But he cannot overtake him nor once can him throng.
At the tail of his hounds then Jack his whip did crack!*
That’s the beauty of all hunting and away with ’em, Jack.
And away with ’em, Jack, and away with ’em, Jack,
That’s the beauty of all hunting and away with ’em, Jack, Jack, Jack.

*Simultaneously with ‘crack!’ Will claps his hands together to make a resounding crack.

This is a traditional song

Provenance

Will learnt this one at the Holme Valley Beagles Hunt sings where he has long been a stalwart member. When Cyril Ford was the Huntsman the tradition was he always started the Hunt sings with this one, so it was inevitable that Will would pick it up and sing it. It is the second song in Hunters’ Songs, 1948, published by The Holme Valley Beagles Hunt. Other songs in the book have this song designated as their tune. It is of course the tune of TYG9 ‘The Bonny Hawthorn’, but for my money it goes much better with this stirring hunting song.