-
Title
-
John Peel
-
Singer
-
Acott, Charles
-
Notes
-
Note 1
Williams, Alfred: Ms: 'It is not generally known that the favourite song, 'D'ye ken John Peel' is not an original composition, but was founded on an earlier copy, which is given below. I am not sure as to its positive correctness; I give it as I heard it sung by the old villagers. Words supplied by Charles Acott, Mersey Hampton.'
Williams, Alfred: WGS: 'It is not generally known that the favourite song, 'D'ye ken John Peel' is not an original composition, but was founded on an earlier copy, which is given below. The piece is often met with in the Thames Vale. Words supplied by Charles Acott, Mersey Hampton.'
Williams, Alfred: FSUT: 'Perhaps the original of D'ye ken John Peel' The piece is often met with in the Thames Vale. Words supplied by Charles Acott, Mersey Hampton.
Note 2
The text printed in both WGS and FSUT follows which differs from the Ms. Here Verse 2 is used as a chorus and there are textual differences.
Verse 1
D'ye mind John Peel in the days gone by,
How he cheered on his hounds with his jovial cry;
And the blast of his horn echoed loudly and high
As it rang o'er the fields in the morning?
Chorus
Right fearless he rode, like a brave man and true,
With his hounds on ahead, and the fox full in view;
While the green valleys rang with his loud Whoop! halloo!
And the blast of his horn in the morning.
Verse 2
Then away, through the gorse, brake, o'er moorland and fell,
O'er swift rolling rivers, and deep craggy dell;
John Peel was the foremost - that Reynard could tell -
With his horn sounding shrill in the morning.
Chorus
Verse 3
Oh, blithe was his heart when the death drew nigh,
And cheery the glance of his bright blue eye,
As he bore off the brush, and waved it on high,
With his horn sounding shrill in the morning.
Chorus
Verse 4
Then a bumper, a bumper, we'll swell in acclaim,
And drain it with pride at the shrine of his fame;
For long may each huntsman remember his name,
And the blast of his horn in the morning.
Transcribed and edited by Chris Wildridge, 2010.
