11 Mar 98 - 07:41 AM (#23516) Subject: Lyr Add: SWARTHFELL ROCKS From: Wolfgang Hell There has been a request for this song in another thread. So here it is from a photocopy that says "Noted by F. Kidson, sung by Miss A. Bownass of Windermere" (I don't know from which book I once copied this). Wolfgang SWARTHFELL ROCKS
1. Early one morning as I rose from me bed
2. There were some gentlemen who had come from Patterdale,
3. It was then on Swarthfell Rocks where we laid on our hounds,
4. Out cries Henry Wilkinson, "Hark, hark away, my boys!"
5. They came through How Town moor, it being late an hour,
6. There was "Tipler", "Towly", "Fairmaid" and "Jolly",
7. Richard Mounsey rode amain, and he whipt up o'er the plain,
8. They came through Hallin Hag, their course it being strong,
9. Then Reynard being weary, and seeking for shelter,
10. Old "Lilter" followed in, and never more was seen,
11. So now to conclude, and finish my song,
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11 Mar 98 - 12:50 PM (#23542) Subject: Tune Add: SWARTHFELL ROCKS From: Bruce O. Frank Kidson contributed the song to JFSS, #9, 1906. He there expressed his belief that the song was derived from "The Fox- Chase...Duke of Buckingham's Hounds", ZN75, in the internet broadside index. (I agree, for what tht's worth) Kidson noted that George Villiers, the 2nd Duke of Buckingham, (1627-88) kept a pack of hounds at Helmsley, Noth Yorkshire. The Folger Shakespeare Library acquired an 18th century copy of the ballad about 10 years ago, and put it on display soon after.
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14 Mar 98 - 04:27 PM (#23781) Subject: ADD Version: Swarthfell Rocks From: PKD Swarthfell Rocks It were early one morning when I rose from me bed I've heard hark, hark away me boys so clearly And so I drew me a little nearer, for to see who was there That were going out fox hunting so early And so I drew me a little nearer, for to see who was there That were going out fox hunting so early There were nine gentlemen and the Duke of Buckingham And they each of them set out upon the trial To see the hounds run in the north, where they have great fame and worth And the most of them set out with no denial To see the hounds run in the north, where they have great fame and worth And the most of them set out with no denial It were at Swarthfell Rocks, where we laid on our hounds Not thinking a fox there being likely Now an huntsman long I've been but the likes I've never seen We unkenneled bold Reynard so early Now an huntsman long I've been but the likes I've never seen We unkenneled bold Reynard so early Henry Wilkinson cried "Hark, hark away me boys" Joe Clark, our foot-sportsman, soon heard him Richard Mounds he cried "Oddzounds, you mun' couple up your hounds "For this day you never will come near him" Richard Mounds he cried "Oddzounds, you mun' couple up your hounds "For this day you never will come near him" They come through our town moor, being late in the hour It were sometimes one hound and sometimes t'other It were hard to be expressed which of them ran him the best For they each ran abreast close together It were hard to be expressed which of them ran him the best For they each ran abreast close together There were Tippler and Towler and Fair Maid and Drolider There were Countess and Blossom and Fury And there were several other hounds ran close within his bounds But these were the hounds that ran near him There were several other hounds ran close within his bounds But these were the hounds that ran near him They come through Hallen Hag, their course being strong I'm sure there was little ease in it But our hounds they ran him well and they turned him in again And he took Sharrow Woods for his cover But our hounds they ran him well and they turned him in again And he took Sharrow Woods for his cover Then Reynard being weary and seeking for shelter His way was to take the straight over But our hounds they ran amain and they laid him in again And there they destroyed him forever But our hounds they ran amain and they laid him in again And there they destroyed him forever Oh Lilter followed him, and never more was seen Which caused our great sportsmen to murmur That a finer little hound never ran above the ground He was the bonniest little hound in the number Aye a finer little hound never ran above the ground He was the bonniest little hound in the number So now to conclude, and to finish me song This gallant fox hunt it is all over It's the forty-second fox that's been slain on Swarthfell Rocks So that puts an end to me story It's the forty-second fox that's been slain on Swarthfell Rocks So that puts an end to me story Mike, Lal and Norma sing this on "for pence and spicy ale", The Watersons 1975. Bert Lloyd says in the sleeve notes: On the surface this sounds like a local Ullswater song. Frank Kidson heard a lady sing it at a Windemere festival, and he contributed it to the Folk Song Journal (no 9) where the Watersons found it. In fact, like many hunting songs, it has turned up in other places with other place-names. Sharp and Baring-Gould found three or four sets of it in Somerset and Devon. They called it "The Duke's Hunt", with some reason, for the song has grown out of an earlier ballad, printed about 1660, concerning a pack of hounds owned by the repulsive George Villiers, second Duke of Buckinhgham (containing the "Dido, Bendigo" chorus that turns up in several hunting songs). Watersons have craftily brought brought the Duke's name into their version, though it wasn't there when the Windemere lady sang it. Apologies for any spelling mistakes. Hope this is OK. |
11 Apr 14 - 01:11 PM (#3617646) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Swarthfell Rocks From: GUEST,Alan Robson Verse 4, line 3 should surely read "Richard Mounsey cried out "Zounds, you mun couple up your hounds". "Zounds" being an archaic contraction of "God's wounds". You have in one thread "Oddzounds" and in another "Oh, zounds" both of which seem to me impossible. "Must" should read "mun", which is "must" in the Yorkshire dialect used. |
10 May 14 - 02:00 PM (#3625329) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Swarthfell Rocks From: GUEST,Alan Robson This is an error. The lyric is, in fact, "Oddzounds" |
11 Sep 16 - 09:02 PM (#3809567) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Swarthfell Rocks From: GUEST,Oz Childs On reflection I think "Richard Mounds" must really be "Richard Mounsey" because Mounsey is a good old North Country name. But what a strange song it is. The narrator, I think, woke up and totally forgot he was to be the chief sportsman at the hunt, When he showed up early in the morning someone must have told him, 'Saddle your horse and get your horn, you are in charge of this hunt!" Mounsey and Wilkinson would have been the whippers-in, and a a whipper-in would be the first to spy the fox since they ride nearest the hounds. Note that the hunt staff is exactly right in this song: Huntsman (the narrator), whippers-in left and right, and a foot-sportsman to manage the hounds on foot. |
12 Sep 16 - 04:38 PM (#3809703) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Swarthfell Rocks From: GUEST There would be no hunt staff - this being a 'trial' and from an early date . The hounds would be owned by individuals and 'trencher fed' ie not kept in Kennels. This system became commonplace in N. America - but largely died out in UK. The 'trial' evolved into Hound Trailing, so serious betting could take place. |