Lyr Add: Keepers and Poachers

Subject: Keepers and Poachers
From: Wolfgang
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 06:18 AM

The song below is copied from Peter Kennedy (Ed.), Folksongs of Britain and Ireland. Martin Carthy sings a very similar version with the title "William Taylor, the poacher" on "Crown of horn".

Wolfgang

KEEPERS AND POACHERS

Ye subjects of England, come listen awhile
I will sing you a ditty, that'll cause you to smile,
'tis concerning some poachers and keepers also
that fought in those coverts some winters ago.

Now when we go in, boys, good luck to us all,
our guns they do rattle and the pheasants do fall.
But in less than ten minutes twelve keepers we did spy,
get you gone, you bold poachers, how dare you come nigh?

Says one to the other: Now what shall we do?
Says one to the other: We all will stand true,
so they did agree for to all be as one
and fight those twelve keepers, till the battle was won.

Now there's one, William Taylor, who won't run away
when five of those keepers all on him did play.
Young Taylor being weary, he sit down to rest,
young Taylor was taken, though he fought the best.

Now the judges and jury to him they did say:
If you will confess now, your sweet life we'll save.
Oh no, said young Taylor, that won't do at all,
now since you've got me, I will die for the all.

Now there's none like young Taylor, no never was yet,
there is none like young Taylor, no never were yet.
Now, there's none like young Taylor, you keepers all know
that fought in those coverts some winters ago.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Keepers and Poachers
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 01:24 PM

Also known as (Bold) William Taylor.  Peter Kennedy and Mervyn Plunkett recorded this version from George "Pop" Maynard of Copthorne in Sussex, in 1953.  He may be heard singing it on Topic Records LP 12T286, "Ye Subjects of England: Traditional Songs from Sussex", and on Topic CD TSCD668, "To Catch a Fine Buck was my Delight - Songs of Hunting & Poaching."  I have sent a midi of the notation in Kennedy's book to the Mudcat Midi Site.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Keepers and Poachers
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 16 Mar 00 - 02:33 PM

G'day,
Thanks to Malcolm the tune can be found here at the Mudcat MIDI site.

Cheers,
Alan