229. Dido Bendigo
or “The Noble Fox Hunting”
Folk song, England ( < 1650 ).
The parentheses indicate syllables sung on a pickup beat.
1.
As I was walking one morning last Autumn,
I’ve overheard some noble foxhunting
('Twas) between some noblemen and the Duke of Wellington
(So) early before the day was dawning.
(Ch.)
There was Dido, Bendigo, Gentry he was there-o;
Traveller, he never looked behind him.
There was Countess, Rover, Bonnie Lass and Jover:
These were the hounds that could find him.
(Well the) first fox being young and his trials just beginning,
(He’s) made straight away fo_r his cover.
(He’s run) up yon highest hill and gone down yon lowest gill,
(Thinking) he’d find his freedom there fore_ver.
(Ch.)
(Well the) next fox being old and his trials fast a-dawning,
(He’s) made straight away fo_r the river.
(Well the) fox he has jumped in, but a hound jumped after him;
(It was) Traveller who strided him fore_ver.
(Ch.)
(Well they’ve) run across the plain but they’ve soon returned again,
The fox nor the hounds neve_r failing.
(It’s just) been a year today since I heard the squire say,
“(Hark) forward me bra_ve hounds fore_ver!”
|: (Ch.) :|
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