Lyr Req: gamekeeper song(s)

Subject: Lyr Req: gamekeeper song(s)
From: ClaireBear
Date: 07 Aug 08 - 02:09 PM

Years ago I heard or (more probably) read a lyric for a song about a charitable poacher:

When the gamekeeper fell ill and could no longer go out and catch game to feed himself, the poacher brought offerings of rabbits, etc., to his doorstep and left them there so that the keeper would have something to eat -- so the two of them could go back to their traditional adversarial roles.

I've never found it again, and sadly I have no lyrics -- can someone help me?

Also please see this thread; someone else is looking for a gamekeeper song as well and has most of a verse of lyrics, but has mistitled the thread.

Thanks, all!

Claire

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: gamekeeper song(s)
From: le cheffie
Date: 07 Aug 08 - 02:14 PM

Thanks Claire
Nick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: gamekeeper song(s)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 07 Aug 08 - 02:57 PM

'While Gamekeepers Lie Sleeping' has a poacher leaving a bird on a regular basis for the policeman who's wife is ill !

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: gamekeeper song(s)
From: ClaireBear
Date: 07 Aug 08 - 03:02 PM

It does? That could be what I'm remembering, but that's not in the version I know (which is the one June Tabor sings that is, I think, in Peter Kennedy's collection).

Off to research -- thanks! I'll report back...

C

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: gamekeeper song(s)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 07 Aug 08 - 03:04 PM

WHILE GAMEKEEPERS LIE SLEEPING is where the lyrics are Claire

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: gamekeeper song(s)
From: ClaireBear
Date: 07 Aug 08 - 03:07 PM

Brilliant! Leadfingers, you are of course exactly right, and I never thought to look there, 'cause I thought I knew the song. Thank you very much!

Now, I leave this thread to le cheffie's search for a gamekeeper song that includes the following verse:

With his traps and guns and snares he will seek out foxes' lairs
and the warren where the rabbits often lurk
with his pair of trusty hounds whose devotion knows no bounds
Yes it's all part of the gamekeeper's work.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: gamekeeper song(s)
From: le cheffie
Date: 07 Aug 08 - 04:11 PM

Clair thank you again,
Yes if any one does know the origins of the above lyrics and the rest of the song i would be grateful.

Regards

Nick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: gamekeeper song(s)
From: GUEST,John Thomas
Date: 07 Aug 08 - 04:42 PM

The song I learnt as a gamekeeper went

I'm not the pheasant plucker,
I'm the pheasant plucker's son.
And I'm only plucking pheasants
Till the pheasant plucker comes.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: gamekeeper song(s)
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 07 Aug 08 - 04:48 PM

ClaireBear,
your posted lyric sounds like something out of Gilbert & Sullivan, the one with 'The Policeman's lot is not a happy one'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: gamekeeper song(s)
From: ClaireBear
Date: 07 Aug 08 - 04:59 PM

It wasn't my posted lyric, really, it was le cheffie's. I know, it's confusing,

But talking of other songs, in my head I keep hearing le cheffie's lyrics sung to "The Husbandman and the Servingman" -- to which it would scan perfectly. I wonder if there's a gamekeeper/poacher parody out there?