The Chasing of the Hare

This is an odd song, which I came across in the Inishowen Singing Project at ITMA. It comes from the singing of Paddy Collins, and I have yet to find any other recordings. More information coming soon!

 

 

It was a pleasant morning in the springtime of the year

The weather it was lovely and the morning calm and clear

There was no one on the premises to keep me in the box

So with my hunting hound and horn I started for the Knox.

 

You may talk enjoy about enjoyment but if sport you want to see

Just get your hound and walking stick and come along with me

There is coursing, racing, motoring, and towering through the air

But no form of amusement like the chasing of the hare.

 

I remember it was the day the Cunion boys came there

We had plenty up for Garners cross the Bridge and Killimare

From the Waterside and Fulham and a number from Roslea

And a few of my acquaintances from round Lisnashea

 

When pussy got up on her props she bid them all goodbye

While the jolly hounds they fairly raised the country with a cry

Oh my heart went up a story while this music filled the air

Was for me a taste of heaven with my bold companions there

 

We had Dasher, Comer, Trimmer, Timer on the go

With Lightening, Ruben, Charmer, and a dozen more or so

We hunted o’er the mountain side, they valleys and the bogs

While they all kept up the cheering for the Ballindarra dogs

 

And when the hunt was finished up my courage to renew

I had a little goblet of the real old mountain dew

Oh it made me feel as happy as if sailing with the gale

I was singing ‘God save Ireland and good rest to Barney Whale”

 

I was strolling down the roadway when a boithrin I did pass

There first I sar my eyes upon my Stanafaley lass

Arrah boys she was a beauty if you saw her you would say,

It was not one bit wonder that she stole my heart away

 

She was the grandest you could meet from Cunion to Belcoo

Her left eye was a golden brown, the right a navy blue

Her complexion was the colour you might purchase in the shop

She had a long and a longer and a most peculiar hop

 

True love it ne’er runs smoothly or as smoothly as you would like

A fact I soon discovered when this fair made went on strike

She left me for another, ’twas a grievous sight to see

And to think this other fella was not half as nice as me