Lyr ADD: The Christmas Hare (Roger Watson)

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: The Christmas Hare (Roger Watson)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Dec 22 - 01:54 PM

Threads combined. There were lots of them.

Subject: RE: Lyrics: The Christmas Hare
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Dec 22 - 06:52 AM

Thanks, Tim. I did try to search for it first, but obviously I missed out something important.

Subject: RE: Lyrics: The Christmas Hare
From: RTim
Date: 26 Oct 20 - 04:46 PM

The song was written by Roger Watson...and appears on the Druids recording - Burnt Offering.

Tim Radford

Subject: Lyrics: The Christmas Hare
From: Greum
Date: 26 Oct 20 - 04:12 PM

Having spent some while playing the song a dozen or more times so I could transcribe the song fully, I thought I would share the lyrics here in case they're of help to anyone else.

I first heard this song sung by The Druids, and I think there are a couple of other versions on YouTube.

THE CHRISTMAS HARE

It was one chilly Christmas eve as you shall quickly hear
There was winter on the treetops and the air was crisp and clear
The bus set out from Hucknall; for Mansfield it was bound
And steadily it made its way as the night was coming down.

It was down by Newstead Woodside as we were passing there
From out of the thicket ran a bonny brown hare
Down the road she started and she set a cracking pace
And the driver shouted, Tally ho! and after her gave chase.

Then he revved up his engine crying, Hark, hark away
The spirit of the chase it fairly carried him away
And as we swung along the road to the music of his horn
We thought that we would never live to see the Christmas morn.

Arms and legs went flying as we lurched around the bends
Wives clung on to husbands and friends clung onto friends
The conductor rang the bell like mad but the driver took no heed
Or else he took it for encouragement for he quickened up his speed.

And in Newstead and in Annesley they stand and stare aghast
For to hear a bus’s engine and a hare comes running past
Imagine their amazement as they wondered what was up
When the bus went flying past and left them standing at the stop.

Now she never looked behind her and she ran so straight and true
For the chase was nearly over when East Kirkby came in view
And coming past the Badger Box and round by Mutton Hill
The hare began to tire; it was time to make the kill.

Then all at once the bus stopped dead and we landed on the floor And looking out the window hare and huntsman there we saw
He held her by the ears crying isn’t she a winner
I’ve a wife and seven kids at home and here’s our Christmas dinner.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Christmas Hare by Roger Watson
From: GUEST,Ed Silberman
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 03:14 PM

Thank you I'm sure one of my local libraries must have the Palmer book. Never heard of the Druids but I'll my eyes peeled for their record. Or just e-mail RW. Thank you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Christmas Hare by Roger Watson
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 09:58 PM

THE CHRISTMAS HARE was recorded by The Druids on their 1970 album "Burnt Offering."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Christmas Hare by Roger Watson
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 04:52 PM

It's in Roy Palmer's Book of British Ballads ( http://www.llanerchpress.com/ ). I don't have time to type it out for you just now, but several people round here have copies of the book.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Th eChristmas Hare by Roger Watson
From: RichardK
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 04:29 PM

If it's Roger Watson the melodeon player, now of Boka Halat and TAPS, that you want, you could try emailing him on [e-mail]

Helpfully,
Richard.

Subject: Lyr Req: The Christmas Hare by Roger Watson
From: GUEST,Ed Silberman
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 10:57 AM