> Shirley Collins > Songs > A Keeper Went Hunting

A Keeper Went Hunting

[trad.]

Shirley Collins sang this funny song in 1959 on her first LP, Sweet England. The album's notes comment:

An English lyric song from Sharp's English Folk Songs.

Lyrics

A keeper he would hunting go,
Under his arm he carried a bow
All for to shoot a merry little doe
Among the leaves so green-o.

Chorus (after each verse):

Hey down down, hey down ho down, derry down down
Among the leaves so green-o
Catch him boy, faster, very well, master
Hey down ho down, derry down down
Among the leaves so green-o

The first doe he shot at he missed,
The second doe he swore he kissed,
The third doe would by nobody be missed
Among the leaves so green-o.

The fourth doe ran across the plain,
The keeper chased her back again,
Where she is may she remain
Among the leaves so green-o.

The fifth doe ran across the brook,
The keeper chased her back with his crook,
Where she is you may go and look
Among the leaves so green-o.