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Dido Bendigo​/​Reynard the Fox /Danny O'Donnell's

from Hartwell Horn by William Pint & Felicia Dale

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about

William's been singing Dido, Bendigo for years and years since first hearing it from Marc Bridgham in the late seventies.
Reynard the Fox is a hybrid version put together from the Kennedy collection of songs from the British Isles, Martin Carthy's version and a few extra lines that came from nowhere. It seemed only fair to present another side of foxhunting after all the ‘tally ho - what jolly good fun' of Dido, Bendigo.
This reel is one of Danny O'Donnell's unnamed tunes from the excellent collection, The Northern Fiddler.

lyrics

Dido Bendigo
traditional, arranged by Pint and Dale

Well, as I was a walking one morning last autumn
I overheard some nobles foxhunting
Between some noblemen and the Duke of Wellington
It was early just as the day was dawning.
There was Dido, Bendigo, Gentry he was there-o
Traveler 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 way for his cover
He's run up the highest hill
And along the lowest rill
Thinking that he'd find his freedom there forever.

Well the next fox being old,
And his trials past the dawning
He's made straight way for the river
Well the fox he did jump in
But a hound jumped after him
It was traveler who straited him forever.

Well they run across the plain
But they soon returned again
The fox and the hounds never failing
It's been just twelve months today,
Since I heard the squire say,
Hark, forward then me brave hounds forever.

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Reynard the Fox
traditional, arranged by Pint and Dale

A good many gentlemen take great delight
In hunting bold Reynard the fox
For the very best foods I do eat in the night
And I dine upon fat geese and ducks
In ash pit and copse I did lie
And I lived an extraordinary rate
Picking the bones of young lambs
Till the farmers they all me did hate

All for the king's horses and hounds they did send
And the huntsmen they swore I must die
They made all the hair on my coat stand on end
And they caused me from my young ones to fly
All down stony lanes they did run me
And I gave them a very good chase
When I entered the woods I did pause for a breath
And the hounds they drew closer a pace

All through the wild woods they did chase and did gain
And the gamekeeper saw me go by
They chased me out into the wide-open plane
And 'twas there that he fired at my thigh
All in stony plains they did kill me
All the bloodthirsty dogs they did follow
They tore my old coat into pieces
And they caused the brave huntsmen to "halloo"

Now pardon me sportsmen for spoiling your game
But the dogs they have caused me to die
Your farmers at home rest easy tonight
For your flocks are all safe for the time
Now that bold Reynard is dead
You'll all go to the dolphin and dine
And dip my forefoot in a bumper
And drink the king's health in good wine

You farmers at home rest easy tonight
For my turn at night hunting's gone by
But I've left little brothers of mine to remain
Who love young lambs far better than I

credits

from Hartwell Horn, released January 1, 1999

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William Pint & Felicia Dale Seattle, Washington

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