Yorkshire Garland
 

The White Hare of Howden

 
Performed by:
Steve Gardham
Recorded in:
Harrogate
Recorded on:
28/01/2007
Recorded by:
Ray Padgett
Genre:
Sport
Keywords:
Hares,
Hounds,
Hunting
 

Archival information

TYG:
79
Key:
Bb minor
Time Signature:
6/8
Roud id:
1110
Laws id:
Master title:
The White Hare
Places Cited:
Howden

Lyrics

1
Near ’Owden town, near ’Owden town as I ’ave ’eard ’em tell,
There once was a white ’are that use`d there to dwell;
She’s been ’unted by grey’ounds an’ beagles so fair,
But there ne’er was one amongst ’em could come near to this white ’are,

To me Fol-de-dol-de, rol-de-dol-de, lol-de-dol-de-day.

2
When they came to the place where the white ’are used to lie,
They uncoupele`d the beagles an’ began for to try,
They uncoupele`d the beagles an’ beat the bush around,
But there never was a white ’are in that place to be found.

3
It was Jemmy the ’untsman an’ Tom the whipper –in,
Go look in yonder fernside an’ see if she be in;
Oh, the ’are she gave a jump, boys, an’ quickaly she ran;
It’s a yonder she is goin’ don’t you see ’er gentlemen?

4
The footmen they did run an’ the ’untsmen they did ride,
Such ’ollerin’ an’ shoutin’ there was on every side,
Such a hollerin’ an’ shoutin’ I ne’er did ’ear before,
Just as though she ’ad bin runnin’ all the day through.

5
The footmen and the ’untsmen they all drew nigh,
Thinkin’ that the white ’are was gooin’ for to die,
But the ’are she gave a jump, boys, an’ thought to get away,
But it’s cruel were those beagles that caused this ’are to stay.

6
’Twas twenty good beagles that caused this ’are to die;
There wasn’t one amongst ’em above a foot ’igh;
The number of dogs there’s never to be found,
Nor never better ’untin’ upon the English ground.

Joined on the chorus by John Greaves, Mark Ellison and Ray Black

Archival information

TYG:
79
Key:
Bb minor
Time Signature:
6/8
Roud id:
1110
Laws id:
Master title:
The White Hare
Places Cited:
Howden