“While Gamekeepers Were Sleeping”
Description
Singer has a dog. "She'd run a hare of a moonlit night, While gamekeepers were sleeping." A policeman catches him poaching but he gets off with a trick. The policeman retires. Poacher gives him broth for his sick wife and a pup. Now he is also a poacher.
Notes
The first verse is "Dogs and Ferrets" [indexed as "Gamekeepers Lie Sleeping" - RBW] but the plot is entirely different. - BS
Many versions share more than the first verse; many scholars lump them, and I did so also until Ben pointed out the differences. But that song is entirely about poaching and success in that venture. The characteristic of this is the subversion of the gamekeeper. - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "Gamekeepers Lie Sleeping" (lyrics)
Recordings
- Bob Roberts, "While Gamekeepers Were Sleeping" (on Voice18)
References
- DT, GAMESLEP
- Roud #363
- BI, TcWGaLSl