Origins: Tally Ho! The Hounds

Subject: RE: Origins: Tally Ho! The Hounds
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 02 Mar 17 - 03:20 PM

Like Lilliburlero, Derry Down and a few others this tune has been used for many songs, this one since at least the time of George I. The original name of the tune was 'The Country Garden' as employed in the ballad operas c1730. 'The Vicar of Bray' in the song refers to the time of James I right through to George I, but in fact Simon Aleyn, the Vicar of Bray' referred to was the one who constantly switched religion in order to survive from the reign of Henry VIII to Elizabeth. (Chappell).

'Doctor Mack or Tally-ho the Hounds, Sir' seems to date from about 1800 as it appeared on broadsides at that time and then in anthologies like The Universal Songster. As you would expect the name Dr Mack is often localised to some other huntsman or generalised as in the version given above.

You can easily find the tune to Vicar of Bray by Googling if it isn't in the DT.

Subject: RE: Origins: Tally Ho! The Hounds
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Mar 17 - 02:13 PM

Doctor Mack is recorded on 'A Fine Hunting Day - Songs of the Holme Valley Beagles'

Subject: RE: Origins: Tally Ho! The Hounds
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 02 Mar 17 - 02:07 PM

Seems to be based on 'Doctor Mack'
' Now Doctor Mack no more enjoys the burthen of my song sir -etc
Was sung in the Lake District until recently - should be recorded somewhere.

Subject: RE: Origins: Tally Ho! The Hounds
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 02 Mar 17 - 01:35 PM

Surely the tune for all of these is the famous 'Vicar of Bray'

Subject: ADD: The Hunting Priest (from Sam Henry)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Mar 17 - 03:54 AM

I think I found the same source Mark Gregory found:

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/65575837

But gee, I can't find anything at all that's similar. It's a great find. I wonder what the melody might be.

-Joe-

There is a very similar song at folkinfo.org, which is now at my website.

THE HUNTING PRIEST


A doctor's merit no more employs the burden of my song, sir,
I'll sing the life the priest enjoys with constitution strong, sir,
He laughs and winks at him who drinks, I dare lay fifty pounds, sir,
And in the morn he sounds his horn to 'Tally ho, the hounds, sir.'
Tally ho, tally ho, tally ho, the hounds, sir,
And in the morn he sounds his horn to 'Tally ho, the hounds, sir.'

Every morning when he rises he draws on his boots, sir,
And if the beagles call that way he'll join in the pursuit, sir;
On his well-groomed bay he leads the day at the head of all the town, sir,
O're headge and wall he'll risk a fall to 'Tally ho, the hounds, sir.'
Tally ho, ...

Every day this priest affords to dine on boil and roast, sir,
And as great as any lord, he'll drink his favorite toast, sir,
It's his delight to drink at night, his care in punch to drown, sir,
And o're each glass to let it pass to 'Tally ho, the hounds, sir.'
Tally ho, ...

St. Stephen's Day, that holy morn, the priest was going to mass, sir,
And heard the music of the horn and heard the bugle pass, sir,
He shut his book, his frock forsook, and he sought wider bounds, sir,
Set Orthodox to hunt the fox to 'Tally ho, the hounds, sir.'
Tally ho, ...

Next day there was a pair to wed and Puss appeared in view, sir,
He threw the surplice o'er his head and bid this pair adieu, sir,
They both did pray that he might stay, for they were but half-bound, sir,
But he said that they might go home that night and 'Tally ho, the hounds, sir.'
Tally ho, ...

This noble priest, he ne'er did wrong, nor ne'er knew fraud nor art, sir,
His life is worthy of my song, he had an honest heart, sir,
He ne'er distressed nor the poor oppressed, his praises I'll write down, sir,
Nor thought a crime at any time to 'Tally ho, the hounds, sir.'
Tally ho, ...

(note: The last line of each verse is repeated in the second line of chorus following)

---

Source: in Sam Henry's Songs of the People, edited by Gale Huntington (University of Georgia Press, 1990, pp. 29-30

Notes:
From: Michael McCloskey ("Paul Beg") (Cluntygeragh, Dungiven); 11 Feb 1928.

This is an Irish version of the song, also in the database as "Parson Hogg" and to a different tune.

---

The Roud number is 1861, and that brings up some entries under the titles "Parson Hogg" and "Tally Ho the Hounds Sir."

Subject: RE: Tally Ho! The Hounds
From: Snuffy
Date: 02 Mar 17 - 03:29 AM

Almost certainly not the tune actually used, but it could be sung to Yankee Doodle!!

Subject: ADD: Tally Ho! The Hounds
From: DaveJohnson
Date: 01 Mar 17 - 06:56 PM

Mark Gregory has located another gem. This time in a small Tasmanian newspaper in 1851 - a time when Australian republican spirit was on the boil (just before the Eureka Rebellion). The name and tune is as above. I'd like to find the tune to give it a whirl for St Pat's Day. I have asked Lord Google. Any clues?
The lyrics are:

TALLY HO! THE HOUNDS

Come Irishmen ! obey the call,
Of tally ho ! the hounds, sirs,
Whatever your creed or station all,
To swell the joyous sound, sirs ;
For 'tis the cry of low and high,
All Europe in, and round, sirs,
And we have too, the game in view,
So tally ho ! the hounds, sirs.
Chorus.
So tally ho ! and tally ho !
And tally ho ! the hounds, sirs,
For we have too, the game in view,
So tally ho ! the hounds, sirs.

Amongst us long, with subtle tongue,
The Saxon shewed dissent, sirs,
His maxim cool, "divide and rule,"
On plundering us bent, sirs ;
And whilst our jars, and cursed wars,
Of Irish bones made mounds, sirs,
He laid his hands on wealth and lands,
And tally ho ! the hounds, sirs.
And tally ho ! and tally ho ! &c, &c.

He stole our name, he stole our fame,
Our food, our arms, our arts, sirs,
Our Parliament away he sent,
And broke our noblest hearts, sirs ;
And whilst by theft, of nil bereft,
His war dogs stalk around, sirs,
Coercion bills, must heat our ills,
Then tally ho ! the hounds, sirs.
Tally ho ! and tally ho ! &c, &c.

Oh ! Irish Peers, what rapturous cheers,
Would greet you if at last, sirs,
With heart and hand, you'd aid your land,
Her slavery off to cast, sirs ;
If landlord too, and farmer's you,
With peasant's bold were bound, sirs,
With joy I'd die, or join the cry,
Of tally ho ! the hounds, sirs.
Tally ho ! and tally ho ! &c, &c.

My orange friend, let discord end,
Between you and your neighbour,
You'll suffer more from foreign shore,
Than from a papist sabre ;
Ascendant's stuff, there is room enough
For all on Irish ground, sirs,
Then share the toil, and share the spoil,
Sing tally ho ! the hounds, sirs.
Tally ho ! and tally ho ! &c, &c.

To close your ranks in one phalanx,
One firm unbroken band, sirs.
And we shall soon hail freedom's boon,
Illumining our land, sirs ;
Then arts shall thrive, and trade revive.
Our glory shall resound, sirs,
And happiness our Isle shall bless,
Then tally ho ! the hounds, sirs.

Chorus.
So tally ho ! and tally ho !
And tally ho ! the hounds, sirs,
For we have too, the game in view,
So tally ho ! the hounds, sirs.