When I was bound apprentice
In famous Somersetshire
I served my master truly
For nearly seven year,
Till I took up to poaching
As you shall quickly hear
For 'twas my delight of a shiny night
In the season of the year.

As me and my companions
Were setting of a snare
The gamekeeper was watching us
But for him we did not care
For we can wrestle fight, my boys,
Jump over anywhere.
For it's my delight of a shiny night
In the season of the year.

As me and my companions
Were setting for a five
In taking of them up again
We caught a hare alive
We popped her in the bag, my boys
And through the woods did steer
For it's my delight of a shiny night
In the season of the year.

We threw her across our shoulders
And wandered through the town,
And called into a neighbour's house
And sold her for a crown,
We sold her for a crown, my boys,
But dared not tell you where,
For it's my delight on a shiny night
In the season of the year.

So here's success to poachers
For I do not think it fair,
Bad luck to every gamekeeper
That will not sell his deer,
Good luck to every landlady
That wants to buy a hare.
For it's my delight on a shiny night
In the season of the year.




abc | midi | pdf

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Source: Still Growing. English Traditional Songs from the Cecil Sharp Collection.

Notes:
Cecil Sharp collected this song from Elizabeth Smitherd of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire in April 1908. Her father was a carpenter and a squire's son. She was one of thirteen sisters and learned all her songs from them and from her parents.

Manuscript refs.
FT 1571-1577, 1626-1631, 1640-1645.
FW 1417-1421, 1470-1487, 1492-1499.

Roud: 299 (Search Roud index at VWML) Take Six
Laws:
Child:

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Related Songs:  The Lincolnshire Poacher (thematic)