Day 17: The Innocent Hare
Song Information
Quite possibly one of the most gutsy pieces of material that The Young Tradition ever did, I've a big fondness for the live recording from Oberlin College in 1968 that was released in 2013 by Fledgling Records - though this first appeared on the eponymous first Young Tradition album.
Unlike The Old Songs, this actually is a Copper song by a true definition, instead of the spurious argument I made at the time. Bob and Ron Copper sang this song to Peter Kennedy in 1955 and it was included on the album Traditional Songs From Rottingdean, with various other recordings being made with additional Copper Family members over the next 30 or so years.
I remain somewhat challenged by this song being in my repertoire over the last 10 years or so - it's an incredibly bloodthirsty song (in particular the line The huntsman he cries out for death
), but it's also a great song to sing. I'm reminded of a story that someone tells on Mudcat:
While I was still a schoolboy in Colchester I went to see an incredible folk day at the University of Essex featuring Tim Hart & Maddy Prior, Shirley and Dolly Collins, the Young Tradition and Fairport Convention.
Maddy and Tim sang a song which (marginally) involved hunting, and explained the context of the song and apologised for any offence it might cause.
Next up was The Young Tradition, and it was clear that Peter wasn't going to brook any compromise when the group launched into a full-blooded hunting song.
Matthew Edwards, Mudcat Cafe
Listen to the Song
Lyrics
𝄆 Sportsmen arouse the morning is clear,
The larks are singing all in the air. 𝄇
𝄆 Go and tell your sweet lover the hounds are out, 𝄇
Saddle your horses, your saddles prepare,
We’ll away to some cover to seek for a hare.
𝄆 We searched the woods, the groves all round,
The trial being over, the game is found, 𝄇
𝄆 Then off she springs through br she flies, 𝄇
Follow, follow the musical horn,
Sing follow, hark, forward the innocent hare.
𝄆 The huntsman blows his joyful sound,
Tally ho, my boys, all over the downs. 𝄇
𝄆 From the woods to the valleys see how she creeps, 𝄇
Follow, follow the musical horn,
Sing follow, hark, forward the innocent hare.
𝄆 All along the green turf she pants for breath,
The huntsman he cries out for death. 𝄇
𝄆 Elope, elope, retiring hare. 𝄇
Follow, follow the musical horn,
Sing follow, hark forward the innocent hare.
𝄆 This hare has led us a noble run,
Success to sportsmen every one, 𝄇
𝄆 Such a chase she has led us, four hours or more, 𝄇
Wine and beer we’ll drink without fear,
We’ll drink a success to the innocent hare.