“The Lincolnshire Poacher”

Description

The singer served as apprentice for seven years, then took to poaching, "For tis my delight of a shining night in a season of the year." The poachers go out hunting, but are spotted by a gamekeeper; they subdue him and continue to make merry

Supplemental text

Lincolnshire Poacher, The
  Complete text(s)

          *** A ***

The Poacher

As printed by W. H. Logan, The Pedlar's Pack of Ballads and Songs,
pp. 348-349, "From a broadside 'Printed by J. Catnach,
2 Monmouth Street, 7 Dials.'"

When I was bound apprentice in fam'd Northamptonshire,
I served my master truly for almost seven year,
Then I took up to poaching, as you shall quickly hear;
Oh! it's my delight of a shiney night, in the season of the year.

As me and my comrades were setting of a snare,
The game-keeper was awatching us -- for him we did not care;
For we can wrestle -- fight, my boys -- jump over anywhere;
For it's my delight of a shiney night, in the season of the year.

As me and my companions were setting four or five,
And taking of them up again, we took the hare alive;
We popt him into the bag, my boys, and through the wood did steer;
For it's my delight of a shiney night, in the season of the year.

We threw him over our shoulders and wandered through the town,
Called into a neighbour's house, and sold him for a crown;
We sold him for a crown, my boys, but did not tell you where;
For it's my delight of a shiney night, in the season of the year.

Well! here's success to poaching, for I do not think it fair,
Bad luck to every gamekeeper that would not sell his deer,
Good luck to every gamekeeper that wants to buy a share;
For it's my delight of a shiney night, in the season of the year.

Notes

Kennedy remarks, "Although Lincolnshire, Somerset and Leicestershire occur as the location for this most 'fam-e-rous' of poaching songs, more than half the versions from genuine sources favour Northamptonshire." This appears, from Kennedy's bibliography, to be true, but the oldest versions, and those usually sung, are associated with Lincolnshire, so that is the title I adopted. - RBW

Cross references

• cf. "The Chandler's Wife" (tune)
• cf. "The Nottinghamshire Poacher" (theme)

References

1. Kennedy 258, "The Northamptonshire Poacher" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. Logan, pp. 290-291, "The Poacher" (1 text)
3. Silber-FSWB, p. 203, "Lincolnshire Poacher" (1 text)
4. DT, LINCPOCH*
5. ADDITIONAL: Walter de la Mare, _Come Hither_, revised edition, 1928; #216, "The Lincolnshire Poacher" (1 text)
6. ST K259 (Full)
7. Roud #299
8. BI, K259