Lyr Req: The White Hare of Eskdale (Anna Shannon)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The White Hare of Eskdale (Anna Shannon)
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 06 Nov 19 - 06:00 AM

Keys Beck is a stream in north Yorkshire, near Pickering.

It's only just occurred to me that the Eskdale of this ballad refers to North Yorkshire, not the Lake District as I'd assumed.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The White Hare of Eskdale (Anna Shannon)
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jun 19 - 02:20 AM

A "Lurcher" is a cross-breed ideally it is a cross between a greyhound and a border collie where the result is a dog with the brains and stamina of the collie and the speed and hunting instincts of the greyhound. In bygone days they were highly prized by Poachers.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The White Hare of Eskdale (Anna Shannon)
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jun 19 - 12:58 AM

I realize I'm late to contribute, but in verse 3, I believe it's "There wasn't one brave lurcher could her course".

A Lurcher is a type of hunting dog, some kind of hound mix - I only know as it came up in a different ballad.

The 'course' in 'could her course' is to, as per a google search, "pursue (game, especially hares) with greyhounds using sight rather than scent"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The White Hare of Eskdale (Anna Shannon)
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 28 Jan 17 - 04:49 AM

COUPLE � Hounds are numbered in couples. Seven hounds would be referred to as 3½ couple.;
The linked collar used to attach a young hound to an experienced hound for training is also referred to as a couple.

http://www.thewoodfordhounds.org/glossary.htm 

Subject: Lyr Add: THE WHITE HARE OF ESKDALE (Anna Shannon)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Jan 17 - 11:22 PM

My transcription from audio. I have marked a few phrases I am uncertain of.


THE WHITE HARE OF ESKDALE
As recorded by Anna Shannon on "Horses Beasts and Fairytales" (2013)

This tale I tell concerns a hare of white.
It will chill your bones and keep you awake at night.
So remember now as I stand and sing,
For local men will not speak of such a thing.

When my eyes first fell upon this pure white hare,
My blood it froze at the very sight of her.
How my blood it froze! Cold fell my bones,
For I knew the devil to our village had come.

Each and ev'ry night she was out with force(?).
There wasn't one brave lad she could her course(?).
She ran with a pack of a hundred and more,
Through the crops and fields and stripped them bare.

Could this hare be caught with a pack of hounds,
I will bring my best ten couple(?) to run her down.
Through brier and brush, through the broom and thistledown,
She'll not get one chance to run to ground.

The hounds were brought, baying and keen.
We followed fast and furious down to Keys(?) Beck stream,
And the hare jumped in and the hounds did too,
But she vanished as does the morning dew.

On the Sunday night when the clock struck nine,
A chilling human scream rang out into the night.
Oh, my god, my god, death take me please.
My baby has been taken by some devil's beast.

Like the wind we flew to the Wilsons' cottage door,
Blood down the stairs and on the kitchen floor.
Oh, my child the white hare it has slain.
Through the wall she ran and under the farm gate.

All fifty men from the village came,
With talisman and charm the snares to lay.
How they worked by day and by the light of moon,
Loud-spoken prayers on their weary way home.

The traps were checked; not one had sprung.
The women filled with fear to old tom have run,
Wringing their hands and crossing their breasts.
Oh, give to us a spell for this devil's feast.

A silver bullet you must take.
A silver bullet your young blacksmith must make.
When four nights have passed and the moon is high,
She must be shot clean between her eyes.

Four nights they passed and the moon was high.
The hares grazed down beyond the stile.
The gun was primed and the bullet too.
The preacher gave to each man there a bunch of rue.

My wife and baby I pulled near.
In all my life I'd never felt such fear.
This thing we did not know and could not fight
Had brought us all together on this night.

The gun was raised; the white hare turned.
Into the air she flew and for the gun she lurched.
The shot rang out; our hearts were filled with dread,
For where the hare fell, a witch lay dead.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The White Hare of Eskdale - Anna Shannon
From: doc.tom
Date: 26 Jan 17 - 06:45 AM

Yes, it is her very own. You could always ask her! Go to her website - there's an e-mail contact on there.

Subject: Lyr Req: The White Hare of Eskdale - Anna Shannon
From: anasophia
Date: 25 Jan 17 - 11:10 PM

I discovered Anna Shannon while searching for "The Eskdale Hare", and am absolutely smitten with her version. It's a wonderful dark ballad. I have a feeling it's an original composition, but not positive. Is it considered acceptable to transcribe lyrics in that case?