Lyr Req: The Keilder Hunt / Kielder Hunt

Subject: Keilder Hunt
From: Bill Galbraith
Date: 30 Nov 97 - 12:18 PM

I'm trying to find the words to a song called "The Keilder Hunt" which Louis Killen sings. It's a Geordie song, and I can't make out the words. Anyone know this one?

Subject: RE: Keilder Hunt
From: judy
Date: 30 Nov 97 - 01:09 PM

I've got it by Archie Fisher. You've definately got to see the words to get all of this one. I'll try to make time to type it in soon.

judy

Subject: Lyr Add: THE KIELDER HUNT
From: judy
Date: 30 Nov 97 - 03:17 PM

Bill,

Found I had that time sooner rather than later. I sure hope your mouth is in order for this one. Thank goodness you have an oral source. Archie Fisher sings the chorus slowly like a long horn blast and then runs along with the verses as if on the hunt. Great song.

THE KIELDER HUNT
James Armstrong of Redesdale (1800's)

Verse I
Hark! Hark! I hear Lang Will's clear voice sound through the Kielder Glenn,
Where the raven flaps her gossy wing and the fell fox has his den,
There the shepherds they are gathering up wi' monie a guid yald grew,
An' wiry terrier game an' keen an' foxhound fleet and true.

Chorus:
Hark away! Hark away!
O'er the bonnie hills o' Kielder, hark away.

Verse II
There's Moudy frae Emmethaugh an' Royal frae Bakethinn,
There's hounds frae Reed an' Kielderhead, an' Ruby by the Linn;
An' hounds of fame frae Irthingside, they try baith moss an' crag,
Hark! Hark! That's Moudy's loud clear note, he has bold Reynard's drag.

Verse III
Away an' away o'er hill and dale an' up by yonder stell,
The music o' the gallant pack resounds o'er muir and dell;
See yon herd callant waves his plaid, list yon loud tally-ho,
The fox is up an' breaks away o'er the edge o' Hawkhope Flowe.

Verse IV
Hark forrit! Hark ye galland hounds, hark onwart, hark away.
He kens the hauds on Tosson hills, he kens the holes at Rae;
There's no a den roun' the Kail stane but he kens weel I trow,
An' a' the holes on Lariston he kens them thro' and thro'.

Verse V
There's Wanny's Crags an' Sewingshields, and Christenbury too,
Or if he win to Hareshaw Linn ye may bid him adieu;
The Key-Heugh an' the Cloven-Crags, the Cove, an' Darna' ha',
Chatlephope-Spout an' the Wily-holes, auld foxy kens them a'.

Verse VI
Away an' away o'er bank an' brae they drive the wily game,
Where Moudy, Ruby, Royal still uphaud their glorious fame;
An' see the lish yald shepherd lads how Monkside heights they climb,
They're the pride o' a' the borders wide for wind and wiry limb.

Verse VII
Thro' yon wild glen they view him now right for the Yearning LInn,
By cairn an' crag, o'er moss and hagg, sae glorious was the din;
Weel dune, hurrah! They've run him doun, yon's Moudy twirls him now,
Tthe hunt is done, his brush is won, I hear the death halloo.

Verse III
Then here's to Will o' Emmethough, for he's a sportsman true,
Here's to Robie o' Bakethinn, and Rob o' Kielder too;
At the Hopes, Bewshough, an' Kersie Cleuch, Skaup, Riggend, an' the Law,
In Tyne, an' Reed, and Irvinghead, they're gallant sportsmen a'.

judy

Subject: RE: Keilder Hunt
From: Bill Galbraith
Date: 28 Jan 98 - 01:02 AM

Judy- I lost my internet connection for some time, and when I regained it I found your lyrics for the Keilder Hunt. I had even tracked down a reputed address for Louis Killen which yielded nothing. So thank you thank you thank you for all your help! If my band works this up, and manages to delight a few people with it, it will be entirely due to your help.

Subject: RE: Keilder Hunt
From: Bruce O.
Date: 28 Jan 98 - 01:09 AM

Last I heard Lou Killen lived on Bainbridge Island in Puget Sound. My sister moved away from there about a year ago, so I don't have access to the telephone book now.

Subject: RE: Keilder Hunt
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Jan 98 - 11:15 PM

Lou left the island several years ago, he told me when he was here, and now lives in a little town on the western side of the sound called Paulsbo...there is a great, tiny micro-brewery there called Hood Canal.

Subject: RE: Keilder Hunt
From: John Nolan
Date: 30 Jan 98 - 08:16 PM

Re: Lou Killin sightings: He performed a house concert at Sue and Charlie West's, York, Maine, just a few of week's back, and was on great form. Re: the Keilder Hunt - the late Willie Scott's rendition is a classic. Recorded on The Shepherd's Song album, Topic records. Willie was born not too far from Keilder in 1897, only about 15 years after the song was published, as mentioned above, by James Armstrong. Aye, Armstrongs and Scotts have long been a powerful combination on the Border.

Subject: RE: Keilder Hunt
From: Louis Killen
Date: 31 Jan 98 - 07:57 PM

Hello folks, Bill sorry not to have replied to your email. I set it aside for later work but was overwhelmed by other things. I'm glad Judy was able to supply the text which is very close to James Armstrong's original that he published in his collection of poems "Wanny Blossoms". He lived in Bellingham, Northumberland, where the River Reed joins the North Tyne. The Kielder hunt was centered on that northern part of the N. Tyne valley - most of which is under water now. By the By, The song is about the Charltons who dominated that area, all the people named in the song are Charltons.

Subject: RE: Keilder Hunt
From: judy
Date: 01 Feb 98 - 01:12 AM

Bill,
Glad to share these lyrics with you. Enjoy. Wish I could hear it in performance.
judy

Subject: Keilder Hunt lyrics
From: GUEST,Gregg McKenzie
Date: 06 Jun 07 - 04:03 PM

Thanks for the lyrics! We've been looking for these in the year 2007 - can't believe we found them ona ten year old forum! Great and thanks!

Greggt & Markus, Berlin

Subject: Keilder Hunt
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jun 07 - 04:05 PM

Marcus says a double thank you to Judy and Bill as he greatly enjoys singing this trad. tune - now complete with Geordie slang!

Gregg & Marcus

Subject: RE: Keilder Hunt
From: Diva
Date: 06 Jun 07 - 04:39 PM

Heard Louis sing this a couple of years ago at Mucthy, he was in fine fettle and singing up a storm....think hes moved back to the UK?

Subject: RE: Keilder Hunt
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 06 Jun 07 - 05:59 PM

He has---but he comes back to the States to visit evry couple of years. He'll be at Mystic and Old Songs this year. Singing up a storm, no doubt.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE KEILDER HUNT
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 01:06 PM

Here's another copy, from http://www.nehalemtel.net/~reiver/keilder.htm.
It differs from the above mainly in spelling, but since spelling is such an uncertain thing, having an extra copy might make it easier for future searchers to find.

THE KEILDER HUNT

1. Hark, hark! I hear long Wull's clear voice soundin' thro' the Keilder Glen,
Whaur the raven flaps her glossy wing, and the fell fox has his den,
Whaur the shepherd lads were getherin' up wi' mony a guaid yald grew,
Wi' wily terrier gim' an' keen, an' fox-hund fleet and true.

CHORUS: Hark away, hark away!
Ower the bonny hills o' Keilder, hark away!

2. There was Moudy frae Emmetha'. There was Royal frae Bakethin.
There were hunds frae Reed an' Keilder Heid an' Ruby by the Linn.
There were hunds o' fame frae Irthingside. They try baith moss an' crag.
Hark, hark! That's Mowdie's loud, clear note. He has bold Reynard's drag. CHORUS

3. Away an' 'way o'er hill and dale, an' up by yonder Stell,
The music o' the gallant pack resounds o'er muir an' dell.
See yon herd callant waves his plaid. List his loud tally-ho.
The fox is up an' streaks away o'er the edge o' Hawkhope flow. CHORUS

4. Hark forra'd! Hark, ye gallant hunds! Hark forra'd, hark away!
He kens the holes on Tosson Hills. He kens the holes at Rae.
There's no a den roond the Kale stane, but he kens them, I trow,
An' a' the holes on Lerriston, he kens them throw an' throw. CHORUS

5. There's Wanny's Crags an' Sewin' Sheilds and Christenberry too,
Or if he win tae Hershaw Linn, ye may bid him adieu.
The Key Haugh an' the Cloven-Crags, the Cove an' Darna-Ha',
Chatelhope Spoots, the Wily Holes, auld foxy kens them a'. CHORUS

6. Away, away o'er bank an' brae, they drive the wily game,
Where Mowdie, Ruby, Royal still uphaud their glorious fame.
See yon liesh-yald shepherd lads, how Monkside heights they climb.
They're the pride o' a' the Borders wide, for wind and wiry limb. CHORUS

7. Throw yon wild glen they view him now, right for the Yearning Linn.
By cairn an' crag, o'er moss and hagg, sae glorious was the din.
Weel din', hurrah! They've run him doon. Yon's Mowdie twirls him now.
The hunt is done. His brush is won. I hear the death halloo. CHORUS

8. Then here's to Will o'Emmenthaugh, for he's a sportsman true.
Here's to Robbie o' Bakethin and Rob o' Kielder too.
At the Hope, Bewshaugh and Kersie-Cleuch, Skaup-Riggend an' the Law,
In Tyne and Reed and Irthing Heid, they're gallant sportsmen aa. CHORUS