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The Northamptonshire Poacher

from Rose of the Shires by Lew Bear

/

about

I discovered a version of this track on the BBC field recordings and couldn't find out anything more about it.
So, as the recorded version was fairly monotone, I made my own melody and chords for it...only to find out after that, that it was basically The Lincolnshire Poacher with a few words changed here and there (and now, thanks to me, completely different music).

lyrics

When I was bound apprentice in old Northamptonshire
I served me master truly for seven long year
Then I took up game poaching on this ya now must hear
A shiny night is a mighty light any season of the year

My companion and I we were setting four or five
And when we took them up again we caught a hare alive
A gamekeeper was passing as for him we did not fear
A shiny night is a mighty light any season of the year

We slung him over our shoulders and wandered through the town
We called unto the neighbourhood and sold him for a crown
We sold him for a crown me boys but I dare not tell ye where
A shiny night is a mighty light any season of the year

Now game is banned fae poachers but I do not think tis fare
Good luck to any gamekeeper who's willing to buy a hare
Bad luck to any gamekeeper who would not sell his deer
A shiny night is a mighty light any season of the year

credits

from Rose of the Shires, released February 25, 2022
Lew Bear/Lewis Robinson - guitars, vocals, arrangement, production
Duncan Bisatt - bass
Nick Ellison - violin
Traditional lyrics (with a few adjustments from me)

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Lew Bear UK

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