Tootler - why might this song need accompaniment????

This is indeed a great favourite tune with brass bands, but the notion of combining a chorus of hunters from the Holme Valley AND a brass band would blow more holes in the Albert Hall than anyone could imagine!

Dave Eyre swears that over in Dungworth "shepherd swain" is the rule, which illustrates my original point that this song has a number of different local versions - all of which are traditional to a particular village, or even to a particular pub - so that nobody can claim that there is a 'correct' version and that nobody should try to impose what they believe to be right, but should rather respect the ways local singers use.

This is a much loved song and tune, which is kept alive because so many people enjoy it - even if not all of them can agree on how it should be sung.